Veterans Affairs
Rep. Whitfield congratulates a National Guard member at a Veterans Day Ceremony
at Franklin-Simpson Middle School in Franklin
Throughout our nation’s history, America’s veterans have answered the call of duty and have been committed to seeing their missions through to the very end. While we owe our veterans a debt we can never fully repay, we must still work tirelessly to provide them with quality medical care, accessible education and a guarantee that their sacrifices were not made in vain.
Our nation’s Veterans Administration (VA) system is entrusted with an enormous responsibility. Currently, we must balance the needs of those older veterans who fought in World War II, Korea and Vietnam, with the needs of younger veterans who are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. All of these brave men and women are deserving of the finest care possible, and we must work to ensure that the VA has the tools and guidance necessary to provide for their care. The First District is home to thousands of veterans, a large majority of whom rely on the services of the VA for their primary medical care. I will continue to fight to provide veterans with the medical and educational benefits they have earned.
In addition to supporting more traditional approaches to providing for veterans, such as voting for reforms to the G.I. Bill that provide more benefits for our troops, I have also looked for new and innovative ways to provide veteran care. For example, during the 111th Congress, I helped lead a bi-partisan effort to provide funding for programs that paired wounded soldiers with therapy dogs at VA facilities. During the current session of Congress, I have co-sponsored H.R. 198, the Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act, which seeks to expand upon progress made in this area.
Useful Links:
Click here to visit the homepage for the House Committee on Veterans Affairs.
Click here to visit the homepage for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Click here to visit the homepage for the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs.
Click here to visit the webpage for the National Veterans Gravesite Locator.
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