As America renews its commitment to honoring the millions of courageous men and women who have served in the U.S. armed forces, we applaud the innumerable sacrifices that they and their loved ones have made for this great country. Whether on the front lines or the home front, their contributions to protecting our freedom cannot be overstated. We honor and appreciate their service and dedication on this Veterans Day, and on every day of the year.
Our nation’s debt to our veterans does not end upon their return from the battlefield. Rather, it continues as they re-enter civilian life. This means providing assistance as they search for jobs and seek additional training, and ensuring access to counseling, medical services and affordable educational opportunities. Our efforts to help veterans must be as equally unyielding as was their commitment to protecting these United States. I am proud to have helped deliver necessary funding to the Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP), an innovative national program based right here in Maryland that helps veterans succeed in federal contracting. I consistently supported the Sanders-McCain bill designed to reform the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). And I have authored an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that will guarantee an end to the gross mismanagement of the VA disability claims process.
Maryland is home to more than 400,000 veterans who fulfilled a solemn promise to our country. I will not stop fighting until every veteran receives the benefits, resources and utmost respect that they have earned. I ask my fellow Marylanders to join me in expressing thanks to our veterans for all that they have given us, and to join me in prayer for all those currently in uniform who are engaged in active duty worldwide. This Veterans Day, we salute them.