Hello,

First and foremost, from the bottom of my heart, thank you to the brave individuals who have served our country.

The American military represents the best of who we are and who we can be. Despite their disparate backgrounds, the members of our Armed Forces are united by a shared commitment to support and defend the United States. In this, they have stepped up and set an example for us, and the world, about the potential of the American experiment — and that example is chief among the many contributions we honor on Veterans Day.

When we ask our service members to put their lives on the line for America, we must be ready to provide them, and their families, with the care they need while serving and the support to heal when they come home. Today I can’t think of a better way to honor our nation’s veterans and their families than by announcing a new set of policies that will serve and protect the people who serve and protect us.

Many veterans do not receive adequate health care. Military spouses often struggle to find economic and professional opportunities. Survivors in the military are denied justice for crimes of sexual assault. Transgender Americans are barred from serving openly. And when members of our armed forces return home from combat, too many suffer from PTSD or challenges making it difficult to integrate back into their communities.

As President, my administration will fully fund the VA to ensure that all veterans can receive seamless, comprehensive medical care. We will expand transition assistance programs to include military spouses. In order to ensure the fair and unbiased execution of justice, we will shift the prosecution of military sexual assault from military commanders to independent prosecutors. On my first day in office, we will rescind the transgender military ban. And we will invest in public programs and community organizations that help with veteran reintegration.

This is not about doing veterans a favor. This is about keeping our word. When you raise your right hand and pledge to give everything to your country, America makes you a promise in return — a promise to remember you, to respect your service, and to care for you and your family. That promise lasts long after you hang up your uniform. It lasts a lifetime. Click here to read more about our veterans policy.

Thank you,

Pete