November 11, 2020

Dear John,

I want to wish our North Texans veterans and their families a happy Veterans Day. Our veterans have put so much on the line to protect our country and defend our freedom. Today we honor them for their courage and bravery, and recommit to serving them as they have served us.

Since my first day in Congress, I have been working hard to make sure our veterans get the benefits they have earned, and have the resources they need. As a member of the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I’ve taken action to pass legislation to do just that.

Last year, I helped pass the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act that was signed into law to ensure that any veteran who served in the Vietnam War and has illnesses related to Agent Orange exposure could receive Veterans’ Affairs (VA) benefits. My bipartisan bill to have the VA cover the costs of emergency medical transportation for newborn babies of women veterans also passed. It is an honor to work on behalf of our veterans in Congress, and I look forward to continuing to provide the aid they need.

During my time in Congress, I also worked with VA officials, the City of Garland, my congressional colleagues and others to open the Garland VA Medical Center. Our North Texas veteran population is growing rapidly, and with this new medical facility, we will be able to treat 184,000 veterans for issues including COVID-19. This center will also bring an estimated 5,000 jobs to the City of Garland and boost our local economy. I am so grateful that our community could come together to push this project forward, and I'm glad I could help bring it over the finish line.

In addition to the work I’ve done on the Veterans Committee, I’ve also helped local veterans with their issues with the VA. Last month, I was able to deliver a Purple Heart to Captain Elrie Freeman, a veteran from Garland who served in Vietnam and was having trouble getting the medal he earned. I was also able to help Chief Robert Mitchell from Rowlett get the medals he earned from his service in Vietnam, as well as disability benefits.

Chief Robert Mitchell with his medals in Rowlett.

Helping veterans resolve their issues with the VA is one of my most important jobs, and if you or a veteran you know needs help getting the benefits or medals they earned from their service, contact my Richardson office at 972-972-7949. You can also read more stories of how I’ve helped our North Texas veterans on my casework success stories webpage.

Being able to serve our veterans has been one of the greatest honors of my life. They have sacrificed so much for us, and it's time for us to do our duty and help them. I wish our veterans a restful Veterans Day.

If you need help with a federal agency or have questions, please contact my office at 972-972-7949, or send me an email. For coronavirus information and resources on federal assistance as it relates to the pandemic, please visit allred.house.gov/coronavirus.

Sincerely,

Colin Allred
Member of Congress