Dear Friends,

On Veterans Day, we honor the daily sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform and reflect on the debt we owe to these heroes and their families. One of my priorities in Congress is to deliver on our obligations to provide servicemembers with the care they deserve – not just while on active duty, but for their entire lifetime.

It was a pleasure to join the Stamford Patriotic and Special Events Commission for festivities last weekend. There is no greater measure of patriotism than serving our country, and it was my honor to walk alongside true patriots in the parade.

I always appreciate the opportunity to sit down with our brave service members. Overwhelmingly, they tell me about the lack of available housing and mental health resources.

That’s why I’ve consistently cosponsored legislation to support our troops’ mental health when they return home, including the following bills this Congress:

• The PFC Joseph P. Dwyer Peer Support Program Act, named for an Iraq combat medic who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and a traumatic brain injury, this legislation would fund peer-to-peer mental health programs for veterans.
• The Veteran Suicide Prevention Act would require the VA to review the deaths of veterans who died by suicide while under VA care for ways to improve mental health services for the most vulnerable.

I’m also proud to have helped secure $1.5 million in federal funding for Homes for the Brave, a nonprofit that provides housing and support for homeless veterans in Bridgeport. This funding is crucial to ensuring that veterans have access to the training and support they need to gain meaningful employment and end the vicious cycle of homelessness.

This summer marked the one-year anniversary of the Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, which President Biden signed into law in August 2022. This landmark law helps expand access to lifesaving care for veterans who were exposed to toxic burn pits during their service. To find out what the PACT Act means for you and your loved ones, please check here or call 1-800-MY-VA-411. 

As of September 2023, more than 5,000 veterans have accessed PACT Act benefits and close to 50,000 veterans have received treatment from a VA health care facility in Connecticut alone. I am thrilled by this progress, but much work remains to provide comprehensive care to our service members.

Today and every day, we honor the veterans whose sacrifice means that we live with security, freedom, and peace of mind. To our veterans: thank you for your service. I will not stop fighting in Congress to make sure you get the care you deserve.

Sincerely,

Jim