Veterans

My son, Michael, signed up to serve in the Air Force after the September 11 attacks on our nation.  I am committed to fighting to ensure that my son, and all the men and women who wear our nation’s uniform, get the recognition, respect and support they deserve.

Both in war and peace, our strength as a nation comes from honoring those who put their lives on the line for our country.  Yet we must do more than pay lip service to their sacrifice.  As a new generation of veterans returns from Iraq and Afghanistan, we should expand veteran’s services to meet our future needs.

In Congress, I was proud to cast my vote for the largest increase in the Veterans Administration budget in the agency’s 77-year history.  And I have worked hard on issues like expanding education benefits and addressing the long-terms needs to traumatic brain injury victims, the signature injury from the Iraq War, in my service on the Veterans Affairs Committee.

I created a Veterans Advisory Board that includes veterans from every era of service and every part of the district so that I can hear directly what the needs of our region’s veterans.  And it’s clear there is so much more to do.  One of my commitments is to create a GI Bill for the 21st Century to provide veterans the full education and housing benefits they deserve.

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