Issue Position: Veterans & Military Families

Issue Position

Our nation's veterans and their families have served with honor and distinction. In exchange for their service to our country, we have a responsibility to uphold the sacred commitments we have made to them as they transition to civilian life and beyond. Protecting health care, supporting quality and safe housing needs, and creating programs to help veterans secure meaningful work are all critical to uplifting veterans after their service to our nation.

We must ensure that our government provides the best care for our veterans. Despite reforms and new investments, veterans still face unacceptable delays when seeking treatment and medical care at VA hospitals. This is why I've worked tirelessly to reform the system, meeting regularly with Veterans Affairs officials to demand progress on clearing their case backlog.

During my time in the House, I have made it a key mission to fight for access to health care for our veterans. I have held the Albuquerque VA accountable for failing to provide our veterans with timely and high-quality care. I have worked with the Trump administration to make the VA Choice program work better for all of our rural veterans. And I have tirelessly to ensure our veteran programs also work well for Tribal veterans.

My Record on Supporting Veterans & Military Families

Championed the Wage Adjustment For Veterans Enrolled in School Act to ensure that veterans using the GI Bill to fund continuing education receive the minimum wage of the locality where they work.
Co-sponsored the Manufacturing Jobs for Veterans Act to improve skill training for veterans seeking manufacturing jobs and to encourage manufacturers to hire returning veterans.
Co-sponsored the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, a bill that assists veterans suffering from depression and behavioral health concerns.
Championed passage of the Veterans' Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act, which addressed failures that left veterans without adequate health care by providing new resources to Veteran's Affairs to hire additional medical personnel and reduce the backlog of patients.
Introduced legislation to support veterans who are experiencing homeless on Tribal lands by providing rental assistance.
Secured funding for the Veteran's Cemetery in Angel Fire.

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