Throughout our nation’s capital are towering reminders of our freedom and how it was secured. Memorials throughout Washington, D.C., stand as tributes to battles fought and won and men and women lost. They help us to reflect on the true cost of our independence and the ongoing effort to ensure our security today. But granite memorials and bronze statues can never tell the full story.
You don’t have to visit the National Mall to fully appreciate the work of our men and women in uniform. The best reminders of the enduring effort to defend our freedom are all around us. They go to our churches, work alongside us, and serve in our communities.
They are our veterans.
These men and women have volunteered to commit a portion of their life to a cause far greater than self. They willingly signed up to risk life and limb, often for people they’ve never even met before. Their mission to protect and defend our American way of life has taken them to places we can’t imagine in our darkest nightmare—to far-flung corners of the globe where danger lurks around every corner. In doing so, our veterans sacrificed time away from their friends and families at home. They did all this for you and for me.
Many of our veterans return from service with both the visible and unseen scars of battle. Some face new physical challenges sustained on the battlefield while others bring with them the memories of the horrors of war that will never be forgotten. That’s why it is so important that a grateful nation welcomes home our veterans with open arms, and that we uphold our pledge to care for those who have “borne the battle.”
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was established for just that. Unfortunately, recent failures by the VA have raised questions about our commitment as a nation to caring for our troops. This cannot be the way we thank our veterans for their service.
To help reform the VA, I supported legislation that improves healthcare access for our veterans, addresses administrative challenges at the VA and establishes greater accountability for bad actors within the agency. I also drafted legislation that would ban bonuses at the VA for poor performance. We should not reward failure and mistreatment of our nation’s heroes. More can always be done and I will continue to closely monitor the VA’s progress in implementing these needed reforms and improving its services for our veterans.
But we cannot stop there. We must also ensure that our veterans have opportunities to be successful in their careers once they return. That’s why I’ve cosponsored legislation that promotes hiring veterans in businesses that would otherwise not expand to avoid costly government mandates. Many businesses are poised to grow, but doing so would subject them to costly requirements associated with the health care law. This legislation helps businesses expand while providing greater opportunity for our veterans.
Our veterans’ legacy is why we enjoy the freedoms we have today. We can never forget the sacrifices they made to shape this great nation. To preserve our proud history of military service, my office is helping to record first-hand accounts of U.S. veterans and those who supported them during wartime. The Veterans History Project is an ongoing initiative of the Library of Congress that makes these accounts publicly available so that we all may have a greater appreciation of our veterans’ legacy. I encourage veterans who would like to share their story for future generations to contact my office.
As we approach another Veterans Day, I encourage everyone to take a moment to reflect on the importance of our freedom, and consider all those throughout our history who have stood to defend our way of life. And of course, please remember to thank our veterans for their great service. Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.
Senator Deb Fischer.
You don’t have to visit the National Mall to fully appreciate the work of our men and women in uniform. The best reminders of the enduring effort to defend our freedom are all around us. They go to our churches, work alongside us, and serve in our communities.
They are our veterans.
These men and women have volunteered to commit a portion of their life to a cause far greater than self. They willingly signed up to risk life and limb, often for people they’ve never even met before. Their mission to protect and defend our American way of life has taken them to places we can’t imagine in our darkest nightmare—to far-flung corners of the globe where danger lurks around every corner. In doing so, our veterans sacrificed time away from their friends and families at home. They did all this for you and for me.
Many of our veterans return from service with both the visible and unseen scars of battle. Some face new physical challenges sustained on the battlefield while others bring with them the memories of the horrors of war that will never be forgotten. That’s why it is so important that a grateful nation welcomes home our veterans with open arms, and that we uphold our pledge to care for those who have “borne the battle.”
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) was established for just that. Unfortunately, recent failures by the VA have raised questions about our commitment as a nation to caring for our troops. This cannot be the way we thank our veterans for their service.
To help reform the VA, I supported legislation that improves healthcare access for our veterans, addresses administrative challenges at the VA and establishes greater accountability for bad actors within the agency. I also drafted legislation that would ban bonuses at the VA for poor performance. We should not reward failure and mistreatment of our nation’s heroes. More can always be done and I will continue to closely monitor the VA’s progress in implementing these needed reforms and improving its services for our veterans.
But we cannot stop there. We must also ensure that our veterans have opportunities to be successful in their careers once they return. That’s why I’ve cosponsored legislation that promotes hiring veterans in businesses that would otherwise not expand to avoid costly government mandates. Many businesses are poised to grow, but doing so would subject them to costly requirements associated with the health care law. This legislation helps businesses expand while providing greater opportunity for our veterans.
Our veterans’ legacy is why we enjoy the freedoms we have today. We can never forget the sacrifices they made to shape this great nation. To preserve our proud history of military service, my office is helping to record first-hand accounts of U.S. veterans and those who supported them during wartime. The Veterans History Project is an ongoing initiative of the Library of Congress that makes these accounts publicly available so that we all may have a greater appreciation of our veterans’ legacy. I encourage veterans who would like to share their story for future generations to contact my office.
As we approach another Veterans Day, I encourage everyone to take a moment to reflect on the importance of our freedom, and consider all those throughout our history who have stood to defend our way of life. And of course, please remember to thank our veterans for their great service. Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.
Senator Deb Fischer.
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