Fighting for our Servicemembers and Veterans
Protecting our national security is imperative to the American way of life. Continuous wars have taken a toll on our military. I am dedicated to honoring our commitments and restoring the health of our military. We need smart acquisitions to restore our military strength; we need to care for our servicemembers and the families who are bearing the burden of war; we need to honor our obligations to our Veterans. Providing for our armed forces, service members and Veterans is essential to continue our American freedoms.
Increasing Military Readiness
Being from the Mahoning Valley, I often think of the servicemembers at the Youngstown Air Reserve Station and Camp Ravenna who work tirelessly each day to keep our nation safe and the duty I have to ensure they have what they need to do their jobs. As a member of the House Defense Approprations Subcommittee and the House Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations Subcommittee, I am proud to play an integral part in the formation of funding legislation that help improve the equipment and services that are critical to our national security. Each and every day, the men and women of our military sacrifice for our safety; it is our job to give them the resources they need to succeed.
Steady investments in our military is essential, especially prioritizing the recapitalization of the Air Force’s C130 Fleet. This modernization plan will provide hardworking airmen, including the 910th Airlift Wing at Youngstown Air Reserve Station, with overdue essential upgrades. Furthermore, I am pleased that we were able to reinvest $12M in the 13th District, providing essential upgrades to the Youngstown Air Reserve Station and Camp Ravenna. This funding will give our Airmen and Soldiers the training facilities necessary to remain combat ready and complete their missions. I am proud to have supported our men and women in uniform and will continue ensure the vital upkeep of YARS and Camp Ravenna.
Fighting for Our Veterans Healthcare
The health and well-being of our nation’s active servicemen, servicewomen, and veterans is extremely important to me. Unfortunately, military mental health patients around the country are still having trouble accessing quality treatment. This is inexcusable. As Co-Chair of the Military Mental Health Caucus, I have worked closely with my Congressional colleagues to demand that military members and veterans suffering from mental illnesses receive the same standard of treatment. The price of not doing so is simply too high—as we are painfully finding out.
I have cosponsored multiple pieces of legislation designed to assist our service members and their families, including the Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act, Post 9/11 GI Bill Reserve Component Eligibility Act, Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act, a bill to prohibit any hiring freeze from affecting the VA, the Expedited Hiring for VA Trained Physicians Act, Women Veterans Access to Quality Care Act, and the Sgt Brandon Ketchum Never Again Act. Additionally, I have supported the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, which was signed into law by President Obama on February 12, 2015. This legislation increases access to mental health care by creating a peer support and community outreach pilot program to assist transitioning service members, and mandating an annual evaluation of VA mental health and suicide-prevention programs. While this is an important step in the right direction, we must do more.
We need to change the VA system in a way that is going to fix this problem and heal our veterans, and we must work to rebuild the trust with veterans and their families. That is why I have introduced legislation that would help modernize and improve military health treatment both at the VA and at Veteran Services Organizations by incorporating integrative health techniques into their treatment for veterans. I believe these integrative approaches can help preemptively address these needs and ultimately create less expensive treatments for long-term veteran healthcare.
Honor Our Commitment to Veterans
Through my position on the Appropriations Committee I intend to make sure our Veterans get the care they fought for and deserve. I have co-sponsored multiple pieces of legislation designed to guarantee we do not turn our back on the promises we made our Veterans. This legislation includes the Servicemember Retirement Improvement Act, Fair Treatment for Families of Veterans Act, Reducing Barriers for Veterans Education Act, Support the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, Victims of Agent Orange Relief Act, Honor America's Guard-Reserve Retirees Act, Retired Pay Restoration Act, and Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act. If we are going to continue to rely upon our military to act when we require their assistance, we must act now to hold up our end of the bargain. The United States made promises to our Veterans and now owes faithfulness to our commitments.
More on Fighting for our Servicemembers and Veterans
Youngstown, OH — Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) today announces more than $9.4M in funding awarded to the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining (NCDMM) and Center Street Technologies (CST) for a joint, two-year additive manufacturing program in Youngstown, OH.
Youngstown, Ohio – Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) today announced that YSU and University of Akron will take part in a $30 million program to train future engineers. The Microelectronics Workforce Development Program is a joint partnership between Wright State University, Youngstown State University, University of Akron, University of Toledo, Ohio University, and Lorain County Community College to establish statewide undergraduate degree pathways for digital system development and computer engineering that will produce students current in the latest tools and techniques.
Washington, DC – Congressmen Tim Ryan (D-OH) and Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) today introduced bipartisan legislation in the House of Representatives to waive all passport fees for any recipient of the Purple Heart, which is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is wounded or killed in battle. This legislation has been endorsed by the Military Order of the Purple Heart and the National Association of County Veteran Service Officers.
Washington, DC – Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) announces the House of Representatives' passage today of HR 5023, which names the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Youngstown, Ohio the "Carl Nunziato VA Clinic.” Ryan’s legislation was cosponsored by the entire Ohio delegation and passed the House by unanimous consent. To become law, this bill must pass the Senate and be signed by the president.
Washington, DC – Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) pressed US House Leaders to pass his bill renaming the Youngstown VA clinic after Army veteran Carl Nunziato, a Youngstown native and veterans’ rights advocate. In a letter sent to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Congressman Mark Takano (CA-41), Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Ryan urged swift passage of his bill, H.R. 5023 – which Ryan introduced in November of 2019 to rename the clinic.
Washington, DC – Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) made the following statement in support of the Delivering for America Act (H.R. 8015), which passed the House of Representatives today with bipartisan support by a vote of 257-150. This emergency legislation prohibits any changes to the U.S. Postal Service operations and services through January of 2021 that would have the effect of delaying mail or increasing the volume of undelivered mail.
Washington, DC – Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) today secured $343 million in police funding and $270 million in federal Defense funding.
Washington, DC — Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) today voted in support of H.R.
Washington, DC – Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13), a Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, applauded passage of the Fiscal Year 2021 Defense spending bill which Ryan was able to shape using his position on the Subcommittee. The bill funds many local, state, and national programs championed by Ryan, including funding in the bill for two additional new C-130J aircraft for the Air Force Reserve.
Washington, DC — Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13) today voted in support of the FY2021 House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies (MIL-CON VA) Funding Bill. Ryan is a member of the House Appropriations MIL-CON VA Subcommittee. The legislation supports our military personnel, bolsters resources for military families, and provides robust funding for veterans’ benefits, healthcare, and other programs.