Schakowsky Commemorates Veterans Day

EVANSTON - Today, U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) released the following statement in honor of Veterans Day:

"On Veterans Day, we honor and express our deepest gratitude to all the American veterans who stepped forward to defend our country and our democracy. The men and women who have served in the United States Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard were bravely willing to risk their lives to serve the needs of our nation. Not only do veterans deserve our respect and recognition, but they also deserve to know that we have their backs.

"For a number of veterans, the aftermath of their service entails an ongoing struggle with post-traumatic stress and the daily pain of injuries sustained during their service. Tragically, each year, we lose thousands of veterans to suicide, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive and enduring support upon their return to civilian life. We must double down and ensure that we are providing our veterans with high-quality services and resources.

"Last Congress, under Democratic leadership, we passed the largest veterans benefits expansion in more than a generation with the Honoring our PACT Act, and we have remained committed to providing the resources VA needs to serve more veterans than ever. Since the Honoring our PACT Act became law, nearly 2 million PACT Act-related claims have been submitted, more than 5.7 million veterans have received new toxic exposure screenings, and more than 740,000 new veterans have enrolled in VA healthcare. This investment has had a tremendous impact on our ability to help care for our veterans.

"I am deeply committed to fighting for our veterans and ensuring that they are not forgotten. I hope everyone takes a moment today to share their appreciation for those who have risked their lives to serve the needs of our nation. If you are a veteran in need of assistance or know a veteran who may need assistance, please do not hesitate to call my office at (773) 506-7100. We will do whatever we can to assist you."

###