It’s my privilege to send greetings as you gather to remember the veterans who served, those who are still missing, and the brave men and women who gave their last full measure of devotion to our country and the cause of liberty.
We owe our veterans a debt that can never be fully repaid. Their sacrifices, and the sacrifices of their families, are too great to be measured in words of thanks or medals of valor. Instead, we try to honor their service by caring for their future needs and the needs of their loved ones. I am reminded every day of the promises made to America’s veterans, and how critical it is that we honor those commitments.
We have taken great strides toward fulfilling the promises made to our veterans. We passed critical legislation to provide combat veterans with the quality mental health care they need to heal the invisible wounds of war. We took steps to improve the G.I. Bill, so that more veterans can complete their educations and gain the qualifications they need to enter a 21st Century workforce.
We should be proud of the progress we have made; but there is still a great deal of work to be done.
As Montana’s Congressman, I am committed to putting partisanship aside to find workable solutions to the challenges facing America’s veterans. I will continue to work closely with my colleagues in the House to adequately fund the VA and provide veterans with the quality care they deserve. It’s important to look for new ways to expand opportunities and improve the quality of life for our soldiers, veterans and military families.
Our expressions of gratitude and thanks must be more than words and ceremony. We must show our appreciation in our deeds and do more to ensure that veterans and their families can thrive in the nation they so bravely served.
