On Veterans Day, We Must Renew Our Promise to Fulfill Our Sacred Obligations to Our Men and Women in Uniform

Pelosi: On Veterans Day, We Must Renew Our Promise to Fulfill Our Sacred Obligations to Our Men and Women in Uniform

"On Veterans Day, we salute all the men and women who risked their lives so that we can live free. We honor the next generation of veterans, those now serving in harm's way abroad. And, with their grieving families, we remember those who have given 'the last full measure of their devotion' in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Veterans Day reminds us that, as a nation, we must not only show our strength, we must also show our greatness. And our greatness flows in part from how we care for those who have served in uniform. Just as our troops pledge to leave no soldier behind on the battlefield, we must leave no veteran behind here once they come home.

"To honor our national promise to our veterans, Democrats have introduced the comprehensive 'Salute to Veterans and Armed Forces Act.' This bill, parts of which have been enacted, would improve services for our men and women in uniform today and provide long overdue benefits for the veterans and military retirees who have already served.

"We have already succeeded in ending the Widow's Tax, making the increase in imminent danger and family separation pay permanent and extending the child tax credit to the hundreds of thousands of military families left out of the Republican tax cut because, as service members, they do not earn enough money. We are fighting to end the Disabled Veterans Tax fully and immediately. We are working to invest in veterans' health care, reducing wait times at VA hospitals. We will continue to oppose increases in health care fees and costs for veterans, as some have proposed. And we would honor those serving today with bonuses for soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

"On this Veterans Day, we resolve to remember and renew. In cities and towns across the nation, millions of patriotic Americans will observe a moment of silence on 'the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month' to commemorate the armistice of World War I and to honor all veterans and military families. As a nation, we must renew our promise to fulfill our sacred obligations to those who have worn this country's uniform.

"May God bless our veterans and their families. May God bless our men and women in uniform. And may God bless America."