Supporting our veterans, troops, and military families
As Americans, we have no greater duty than providing our veterans with the benefits that they have earned and supporting our troops and their families. These incredible men and women have made unseen and untold sacrifices – both today and over the decades – to keep our country safe, defend our flag at home and abroad, and promote American values across the globe. To show our deepest appreciation for their sacrifices, the least that we can do is ensure that our veterans receive the high-quality healthcare and benefits that they were promised and that our troops and military families receive the support that they deserve while serving our great country.
That’s why I recently voted for the Fiscal Year 2025 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. This legislation is a critical and fiscally responsible investment in our military preparedness, the quality of life of our troops, and the wellbeing of our veterans.
Among many priorities, the FY 2025 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill honors our nation’s greatest heroes by fully funding veterans’ benefits, healthcare initiatives, and VA programs while simultaneously defunding radical initiatives like critical race theory and DEI programs on our military bases. It also invests needed resources in the construction of new housing for our troops and supports affordable childcare for our servicemembers and their families. These two initiatives come at an important time while housing prices continue to soar, interest rates remain sky-high, and childcare becomes increasingly unaffordable for families facing unrelenting inflation and other rising costs. Our troops and their families already make serious sacrifices; they should not have to worry about where they will sleep at night or how they will pay to put their kids in daycare.
This package also protects the 2nd Amendment rights of our veterans. Under this bill, our veterans cannot be stripped of their constitutional right to keep and bear arms for simply visiting a doctor or contacting the VA. Our veterans should never forgo a routine appointment or seek out the care that they need for fear of losing their constitutional rights. In addition to protecting our veterans from unconstitutional overreach by federal bureaucrats, this legislation strictly prohibits the VA from processing medical care claims for illegal immigrants. VA resources should only be spent on veterans who have served our country – not illegal immigrants who violated our nation’s laws by crossing our border with our permission.
Moreover, the FY 2025 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill strengthens our strategic position against China and bolsters our national security. With heightened tensions around the world, we cannot afford to let our guard down when it comes to deterring conflict and reinforcing our military power. This bill supports military operations in the Indo-Pacific region so that we can counter Chinese aggression against our allies and ensures that we can quickly neutralize any threats against our forces.
Finally, we continue to honor the soldiers who gave their lives in service to our country by delivering the resources that Arlington National Cemetery needs to maintain the grounds, accommodate more headstones, and ensure that our fallen heroes have a peaceful place to rest for eternity. It is a responsibility that we must uphold now and forever.
From investing in childcare and military housing to fully funding veterans’ healthcare and supporting our forces at home and around the world, we are keeping our commitment to building a stronger and more secure America. The Fiscal Year 2025 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill will preserve the values of freedom and liberty that we hold dear as Americans and send a clear message to our veterans, servicemembers, and their families that we will always have their backs.
This op-ed was originally published in the Carroll Times Herald on June 26, 2024.