As a veteran and someone who continues to serve in the United States Navy Reserve, I understand firsthand the sacrifices that come with wearing the uniform. Service members spend long stretches away from their families and often miss some of life’s most meaningful moments, such as births, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, recitals, and school plays. They carry that burden while standing ready to put their lives on the line to defend our freedoms and support our allies around the world. Because our service members and veterans give so much to this country, we have a solemn responsibility to ensure that our nation stands firmly behind them when they return home.

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Honoring that service means backing policies that reflect the sacrifices veterans have made. I strongly support the Major Richard Star Act so that veterans who were medically retired with fewer than twenty years of service can receive both the retirement and disability pay they have earned. We must also expand access to mental health services, recognizing that the invisible wounds of service can be just as real and lasting as physical injuries. In addition, care for veterans returning from combat should never be treated as an afterthought. Funding for veterans’ healthcare and support must be included as a mandatory part of any appropriations package that authorizes combat operations.

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We must also modernize and strengthen the systems that serve our veterans every day. That means streamlining the process for receiving VA benefits and ensuring that veterans can access timely, high-quality care at VA healthcare centers. At the same time, we must commit ourselves to ending veteran homelessness once and for all by expanding housing support, mental health services, education opportunities, and job training and placement programs. When our veterans come home, they should know that the country they served is ready to serve them in return. Supporting our veterans is not simply good policy, it is a promise we must keep.