Active Military and Veterans

Issue Position

As a 24-year veteran of the Army National Guard, I personally understand the need to assure the safety and security of our great nation. I believe in the value of open and honest debate about the most solemn act a democracy undertakes: using its military in an armed conflict. I am deeply committed to holding my colleagues and the executive branch to a strict standard of scrutiny as we debate policies that are going to put our men and women in harm's way.

Sexual Assault in the Military

Those who come forward after being raped or suffering from other attacks of sexual assault in the military may face ridicule, intrusive investigations, and demotions. The military service has declared a "zero-tolerance" sexual assault policy for years, but the abuse has continued and an estimated 19,000 rapes and sexual assaults occur each year.

In too many unfortunate cases of military sexual trauma, the servicemember will not get the proper health care they have earned and deserve. Instead, a servicemember may be discharged from the military with an improperly diagnosed personality or adjustment disorder. This less-than honorable discharge prevents a service member from getting benefits and health care they have earned. That is why I introduced H.R.975, the Servicemember Mental Health Review Act. This act will establish a qualified board to review personality or adjustment disorder discharge statuses to determine if they were accurate. We must do all we can to ensure the brave men and women who have put their lives on the line for us, are treated fairly and are getting the support and care they need when they get home.
Veterans

We must honor the sacred contract between a grateful nation and our veterans who make unselfish sacrifices in defense of freedom and democracy. Our goal as a nation is to provide the men and women who return from service in the U.S. military with the opportunity to achieve the American Dream in civilian life.

As the highest ranking enlisted soldier to ever serve in Congress, I have been extremely honored and humbled to work directly on behalf of veterans and their families with a position on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. We owe it to our veterans to ensure that they are healthy, happy, and employed when they return home, and I am working hard to get results for veterans.

If you are a veteran who is having trouble receiving the benefits you have earned, please click here.

VA Reform

I have been hard at work holding the VA accountable and working to ensure veterans receive the care they have earned. In 2014, I was honored to serve as a member of the VA Reform Conference Committee and worked with Republicans and Democrats to increase access to care. At the time, I said "Our work is far from finished. As we move forward, we must continue to work diligently to hold VA accountable and ensure the bill is being implemented promptly and properly. Our veterans deserve nothing less."

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