Garamendi Issues Statement on Veterans Day
WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Representative John Garamendi (D-CA08) issued the following statement in recognition of Veterans Day:
“Every day, United States servicemembers bravely put their lives on the line for our country. The men and women who have served our nation faithfully deserve not only our respect and thanks, but our assurance that they will have the resources necessary to thrive as civilians. I am honored to represent current and former servicemembers and have consistently worked to ensure they are treated justly.
“I have spent my career in Congress fighting to fulfill America's sacred obligation to care for the countless men and women who bravely served our country. In 2019, I introduced the OATH Act, a bipartisan effort to ensure active-duty military personnel and veterans can accurately document any toxins they were exposed to while deployed, so they can receive VA treatment for any health issues stemming from that exposure.
“In 2020, my bill, Merchant Mariners of World War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2020, was signed into law. This long-overdue recognition was a chance to reflect on the bravery, sacrifice, and service of the Merchant Mariners, the oft-forgotten American military branch with the highest per-capita casualty rate of any military service branch in the war. I was proud to have authored the legislation to make this possible and felt honored to present these brave men with the just recognition they deserve.
“I was also proud to support the Honoring Our Pact Act, signed into law in August 2022, to address the issues affecting veterans exposed to toxins. This legislation will finally treat toxic exposure as a cost of war and will deliver the health care, support, and relief owed to impacted veterans.
“As the top Democrat on the Subcommittee on Readiness, I play an integral role in shaping the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This annual bill sets the policy for the U.S. military, and each year, I make sure it encompasses the interests of our veterans. In the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2023, I added provisions to address forever chemical contamination throughout military installations to protect servicemembers from the hazardous chemicals that would have lifelong impacts on their health.
“Our veterans represent the best of our country. The men and women who have served our nation faithfully deserve not only our respect and thanks, but our assurance that they will have the resources necessary to thrive as civilians.”
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