Issue Position: Veterans

Issue Position

Issue Position: Veterans

As Americans, we have an important responsibility to care for our veterans who have sacrificed so much for our freedom. Additionally, as our men and women from both the active service and the National Guard fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan return home, I am working to ensure that they receive all the benefits they are entitled to, so that they may more easily transition to civilian life. While the veterans community is rapidly aging, new veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan will require the care they have earned. I therefore support mandatory funding for veterans health care in a manner that does not increase taxes. Additionally, since so many of South Dakota's veterans live in predominantly rural areas, I have focused my efforts toward enhancing access to quality health care for rural veterans. For example, I have worked with Senator Ken Salazar of Colorado to successfully create the Office of Rural Health within the VA. I will continue to work to ensure that veterans are treated with the dignity and honor they deserve and that the Department of Veterans' Affairs is given the tools it needs to do its job, and do it well.

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