Veterans' Affairs

One of the most important duties of our government is to care for the men and women who have bravely served, and sacrificed, on behalf of our nation.  However, for too long veterans in Connecticut, and across the nation, have had to fight within an overburdened and under funded system to access the benefits they earned in their service.  I strongly support efforts in Congress to fully fund the veteran's health care system to ensure that our veterans, both those who have already proudly served and those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan get the full and timely care and benefits they deserve.

In the first 100 days of the 110^th Congress, I was proud to support critical measures aimed at fully funding our nation’s commitment to our veterans. In addition, the House passed the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act (H.R. 1538), which took the first step towards addressing the alarming conditions at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. During consideration of the bill in the House Armed Services Committee, I successfully offered an amendment that requires the military to notify state-level veterans affairs agencies when a wounded service member returns home to their state. This amendment will help improve the transition of wounded service members from the military to the Veterans Affairs system. I will continue to support efforts in Congress to ensure that our nation lives up to its promise to veterans in eastern Connecticut and across the nation.