Washington, D.C. - Congressman Charles B. Rangel issued the following statement in recognition of Military Family Appreciation Month, which takes place during annually during the month of November:

"Military Family Appreciation Month is a time that we take to honor the great sacrifices and contributions made by our service members and their families. Military families are amazingly resilient. They give full support to their loved ones throughout the deployment cycle and when they return home.

I commend First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden for their tireless advocacy for military families. As a proud member of the Congressional Military Family Caucus, I am committed to working with my Colleagues to find sensible ways to support our soldiers, veterans and their families. Some specific legislation that I have sponsored during this Congress to help military families include the Veterans E-Health & Telemedicine Support Act, which will help veterans and families access treatment for conditions like post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the Universal National Service Act, which could help limit the time that service members are away from their families.

There are also several provisions in the Affordable Care Act, which I sponsored, that makes it easier for active service members, veterans, and their families to access care that they meets their special needs. In addition, military families with limited income resources can now receive healthcare assistance.

Despite the strain of deployment, military families uphold the principles and values that help build our communities and make this country great. We value their contributions and the sacrifice they make every day. We must expand support to these families and ensure access to the resources that they need."

To access resources for military families, visit http://www.militaryonesource.mil