Issue Position: Veterans

Issue Position

The tradition of answering the call of duty to serve our nation runs deep in New Mexico's history, and at times our state has had the highest rate of military volunteerism in the country. Martin Heinrich has worked diligently to address the needs of our nation's service men and women and to make sure our veterans receive the benefits that they have earned. Equally important to Martin is making certain that their families have the tools they need for transition when loved ones return home.

Martin has made it a priority to ensure that our veterans have access to state-of-the-art health care through the Veterans Administration and the best educational opportunities through the GI Bill. The very first piece of legislation he wrote after coming to Congress in January 2009 was a bill to make it easier for our veterans to communicate with the Veterans Administration. And he's supported legislation to provide groundbreaking treatment options for Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Like many Americans, veterans are concerned about jobs and the economy. Currently, the unemployment rate among returning veterans is almost twice the national average. This is a national tragedy and Martin is working to address it. Earlier this year, Martin introduced legislation to provide entrepreneurial training, counseling, and procurement assistance to veteran-owned small businesses. He also successfully passed a bill to provide a tax credit to employers that hire service-disabled veterans.

"Growing up, one of my strongest childhood memories was of my sister Tish leaving home on a Greyhound bus on her way to basic training after she enlisted in the Navy. I remember too how proud she was to wear that Navy uniform. And I remember the stories of the Philippines, the South Pacific, and Midway Island, that my father and grandfather would tell when I was young. These experiences shaped my view of service at a young age and taught me that each of us has a responsibility to pay tribute to the sacrifices of our Veterans, not just symbolically, but in our day to day actions."

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