Dear Neighbor,

Tomorrow, our nation will collectively celebrate Memorial Day and the conclusion of Military Appreciation Month. As we honor the brave servicewomen and servicemen who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, we must also consider how we can justifiably thank our nation's veterans who have returned home.

We are deeply indebted to our military men and women, and I believe that we need to acknowledge that indebtedness. This is why I was an original cosponsor of the Protecting Moms Who Served Act signed into law on November 30, 2021. This law requires the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide community maternity care providers with training and support with respect to the unique needs of pregnant and postpartum veterans. I am also an original cosponsor to legislation that would authorize $15 million for the implementation of this program.

In addition, I fought to pass the Honoring Our PACT Act signed into law on August 10, 2022. This law includes language to create an approximately 112,624 square foot Baltimore outpatient clinic which will enable the VA to enhance its outpatient services and primary care space for veterans.

Just this past week, I joined my colleagues on the U.S. House Committee on Small Business to conduct a hearing to discuss the current landscape for veteran-owned small businesses and the challenges veterans face transitioning out of the military into the civilian workforce. Some of my remarks can be viewed by clicking here or below.

I have also cosponsored the Six Triple Eight Congressional Gold Medal Act signed into law in March of 2022. I spoke on the floor of the United States House of Representatives in support of this legislation that honors the all-women Six Triple Eight Central Postal Directory Battalion which served at home and in Europe during World War II, sorting and routing mail for millions of American servicemembers and civilians.

Even further, I wrote a letter to the House Appropriations Committee, requesting a funding level of $50 million for the HUD-VASH program in the Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations process, which provides housing services to unhoused veterans. The HUD-VASH program has been extraordinarily successful with helping our nation’s veterans escape housing insecurity each year.

I have authored and introduced legislation to award a Congressional Gold Medal and Medal of Honor posthumously to African American Mess Attendant Doris ‘Dorie’ Miller in recognition of his acts of valor while a member of the Navy during World War II.

To all our active service military as well as our nation’s veterans, thank you for your bravery and courageously protecting our democracy. And to show this great thanks, tomorrow I will be hosting a Memorial Day remembrance of fallen soldiers, airmen and women, and marines and presenting $3,000,000 in Congressional Funding that I secured for the Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training (MCVET) to upgrade its facilities. MCVET is a nonprofit which provides unhoused and other veterans in need with food, clothing, and shelter in addition to comprehensive education and job training services.

As we reflect upon this Memorial Day, we remember the heroes of our United States military who have passed and salute not only their memories, but the families they have left behind. I will continue to support these soldiers, airmen and women, and marines for the courage they exude in the pursuit of the ideals and freedoms of our nation.

Yours in service,

Kweisi Mfume
Member of Congress