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SPEAKER PELOSI ACCEPTS WALZ INVITATION TO MEET WITH MINNESOTA VETERANS
For Immediate Release
April 1, 2008
Contact: Meredith Salsbery
507-388-2149
WASHINGTON D.C. — Today, Congressman Tim Walz announced that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has accepted his invitation to meet with veterans from the First Congressional District on April 21 in the Twin Cities. The Speaker will be in Minneapolis-St. Paul to discuss veterans’ legislation being considered by Congress this year.
“I’m honored that Speaker Pelosi accepted my invitation to sit down with veterans from my district to hear first-hand about their concerns and ideas,” said Congressman Tim Walz, who is a 24-year veteran of the Army National Guard. “I have been meeting with veterans across my district this year learning more about the issues that matter most to them. I want to make sure that representatives from our veterans’ community have the opportunity to meet directly with the Speaker of the House when she is in our state. The Speaker is providing strong leadership when it comes to doing right by our veterans and we are eager to share with her our ideas for enhancing care and benefits for the men and women who have risked life and limb in defense of our nation.”
“I thank Congressman Walz for inviting me to Minnesota and look forward to meeting with the heroic men and women who have served our country with distinction and bravery,” Speaker Pelosi said. “Congressman Walz has been a tireless advocate for our veterans, giving voice to their needs and concerns as they return home from the battlefield. Just as our troops pledge to leave no soldier behind on the battlefield, the Congress pledges to leave no veterans behind when they return home.”
The new Congress has championed veterans’ issues by passing the largest budgetary increase for the VA in the department’s 77-year history. The Congress also passed a 3.5% across the board pay raise for all service members, expanded VA research on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, increased the mileage reimbursement rate for rural veterans traveling to the VA, and passed a law allowing 100% disabled veterans to receive both their military retirement benefits and VA disability compensation.
During the meeting, Speaker Pelosi and Congressman Walz are expected to report on the veterans’ legislation that passed Congress in 2007, discuss the Congressional agenda in 2008, and solicit input on a range of issues affecting veterans and their families. This year, Congressman Walz, who is a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, has held a series of forums with local veterans and their families across southern Minnesota.
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