VETERANS
American society has a solemn responsibility to care for those who selflessly served and sacrificed for our safety and freedom.
Caring for our nation’s veterans is not abstract for me, it is something deeply personal to me and my family. I am proud to be a third-generation military veteran and part of a service-first family. I personally served in the Air Force. Before me, my father was a pilot and intelligence officer in the Navy during the Cold War, rising to the rank of Captain. And my grandfather was a Captain in the Navy.
Simply, we need to honor our past commitments to our veterans and their families, as well as quickly solve new issues as they arise. Among other things, we can do better at delivering health insurance to veterans, caring for their mental health, and helping them find good jobs and transition to civilian life. As a member of the Armed Services Committee and founding member of both the Servicewomen and Women Veterans Congressional Caucus and the bipartisan For Country caucus, I am actively seeking solutions to help our nation’s vets.
In Congress, I am delivering for veterans by:
Saving the Coatesville VA from closure. Following the release of the VA’s Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission Report, which recommended closure of the Coatesville VA, I fought back. I hosted VA Secretary McDonough in Coatesville and am pleased that capital improvement work is proceeding at the facility.
Improving veteran healthcare. First and foremost, we need to improve the VA and the systems with which veterans receive healthcare. Then, we have to address the unique health problems that veterans face. I was proud to help get long-overdue bipartisan bills – Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act and the PACT Act – signed into law to ensure that service members who were exposed to Agent Orange and burn pits have access to VA health services and benefits.
Improving mental health outlets. Unfortunately, too many veterans suffer from mental and emotional wounds caused by their service, and we have to do more to care for them. I am proud to have worked in a bipartisan manner to write and pass the IMPROVE Act, which directs grant funds to community health organizations dealing with mental health challenges.
Helping veterans enter and stay in the workforce. Transitioning to civilian life can be challenging for veterans, so we have to do everything in our power to help veterans find and keep high quality jobs that utilize their unique talents. That’s why I am spearheading bipartisan efforts to provide veterans with training and advancement opportunities in areas like cybersecurity.