Working for Veterans' Benefits

Floor Speech

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Mr. NEGUSE. First, let me say, Mr. Speaker, that we are so grateful to the ranking member for his steadfast leadership in leading the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and of course, his leadership with respect to the PACT Act.

I couldn't be more grateful to the colleagues that I have the privilege of serving with in the House Democratic Caucus, whom the country will hear from tonight, many of whom are veterans, people like Representative Deluzio and Representative Carbajal, individuals who have given a great deal to our country, made countless sacrifices, and now are leading the charge here in Congress to protect our veterans.

I couldn't be more grateful to people like Dr. Raul Ruiz whose leadership year after year make the case for the Congress to treat this particular issue with the urgency that it deserves, ultimately culminating in the PACT Act.

The PACT Act, as you heard from our ranking member, marked the largest expansion of benefits in a generation, cutting red tape and waiting times for veterans who were exposed to toxins and developed certain illnesses.

It was historic in that it provided benefits to generations of veterans, many of whom were long forgotten. There are one million PACT Act claims, Mr. Speaker, and we are just getting started.

For the families who have suffered the ultimate loss, the PACT Act means access to life insurance, to tuition benefits for their surviving family members, home loan assistance, monthly stipends, and more.

Mr. Speaker, you will hear from Mr. Jim Costa and Mr. Tim Kennedy and so many other members of our caucus the same admonition, which is that we have to do everything in our power to provide for the families of fallen servicemembers.

We have made progress in that regard, but there is much more for us to do. House Democrats stand ready, as we always are and will be, to get that job done.

I thank the ranking member again for his leadership, I thank the members of the House Democratic Caucus for their leadership, and I look forward to making more progress in the days, months, and years ahead.

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Mr. NEGUSE. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member, again, for his leadership, his clarity of conviction, and the steadfast commitment that he has shown to our Nation's veterans time and time again. I certainly could not say it any better than he has, as you have heard, Mr. Speaker, from a wide cross section of the House Democratic Caucus, Members representing every community in our great country.

Our commitment to our Nation's veterans is rock solid. It is evidenced by the work that Ranking Member Takano and House Democrats, in partnership with President Biden, were able to ultimately accomplish in the last Congress, as you can see, Mr. Speaker, 1 million claims under the PACT Act, real families, real stories, and real impacts for countless veterans who have made incredible sacrifices for our country. We are indebted to them, and we will continue our commitment to them in the weeks, the months, and the years ahead led by Ranking Member Takano and by the leadership of the Members whom you have heard from this evening.

I thank the ranking member for yielding.

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