Working for Veterans' Benefits

Floor Speech

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Ms. STANSBURY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate and honor our veterans and to celebrate and highlight the extraordinary passage of the PACT Act, which is the single-most significant expansion of veterans' benefits in generations. We passed that bill here in Congress under Democratic leadership with the support of President Joe Biden just 2 years ago.

It expands VA benefits to over 3 million veterans across the United States. In New Mexico, we have a long and proud tradition of service that extends across all of our communities, from the Navajo Code Talkers and the heroes of Bataan to the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

The courage, valor, and dedication of our veterans are woven into the very fabric of who we are as New Mexicans. In fact, over 133,000 New Mexicans have served this great Nation, including my own veteran at home, my partner who served this country in the United States Marine Corps.

To all of our veterans and Active-Duty military, we thank them every day for their service and sacrifice. We are here because of the sacrifices they have made to defend this country and our democracy.

We must also thank those veterans who fought to pass the PACT Act itself, including, among them, New Mexico's own Master Sergeant Jessey Baca of the New Mexico Air National Guard and his wife, Maria, who fought for over a decade for our veterans exposed to burn pits and who stood on the steps of this Capitol Building to help get the PACT Act passed.

Now, it is up to us as leaders across the country to ensure that our veterans and our families are cared for. We know that when we care for our veterans, we care for New Mexicans.

Voting for the PACT Act was one of the proudest moments of my service to this country here in Congress. Today, one of my greatest and most awesome and humbling duties is to ensure that every New Mexican veteran accesses the benefits of the PACT Act.

To those who have not yet signed up who have served this country and, over the course of their service, were exposed to burn pits, toxins, and other workplace hazards, there is still time. The VA is there for them. They have their backs, and so do we.

To all of our veterans who have served this great country, they have put everything on the line. Now, it is our turn for the PACT Act to serve them. I thank them for their service and sacrifice.

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