Issue Position: Serving Our Veterans

Issue Position

We must keep our promise to our veterans, and stand up for those who put their lives on the line for our country.

My grandfather served in World War II, and in his later years required a high degree of medical care. While the Veterans Administration covered much of those costs, his care was also supplemented by Medicaid. When politicians in Washington talk about cutting Medicaid, or turning it into a "block grant" in order to reduce its funding, they often paint the picture of a young, lazy person taking advantage of the system. They leave out the veterans and other elderly who rely on Medicaid for certain types of long-term care that Medicare will not cover.

Aside from Medicaid, there are a variety of other programs for veterans that need protecting and strengthening. Programs that help vets transition back to civilian employment are crucial for the health of our society, especially in a time of war. So is ongoing research and treatment for PTSD and traumatic brain injury, which affects far more of our veterans than previously understood, and for all manner of injuries veterans sustain-- on and off the battlefield.

The bottom line is this: veterans served our country, and volunteered to potentially make the ultimate sacrifice. We owe them our respect, our support, and the best efforts of our policymakers.

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