ICYMI: Stefanik OpEd in Watertown Daily Times: Honoring Our Heroes on Veterans Day

Saratoga, N.Y. - In case you missed it, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik published an op-ed in Watertown Daily Times.

Find the full opinion below.

Watertown Daily Times: Honoring Our Heroes on Veterans Day

By Representative Elise Stefanik

On Veterans Day, our nation comes together to honor the brave men and women who have made immense sacrifices in service to our nation. As the proud home of Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division, New York's 21st Congressional District sees the strength and resilience of our military heroes firsthand and we feel the profound impact of their dedication and sacrifice across Upstate New York and the North Country. They are our neighbors, our friends, our family members, each of them bound by a shared commitment to defend this nation, no matter the danger, no matter the cost.

Veterans Day is not just a moment to honor the service of our men and women in uniform, but a reminder of the burdens they continue to carry long after the battlefields have quieted. Many of our veterans have returned home with invisible wounds, scars that may never fully heal. Despite these challenges, their spirit of service never wavers. They continue to inspire us with their courage, their dedication, and their steadfast commitment to country and community.

As your Congresswoman, I am honored to represent tens of thousands of constituents who have honorably served our country. I am a strong advocate for ensuring our veterans are treated with the dignity and respect they have earned. More so, we must continue to fight for the resources they need to thrive, including healthcare, education, and support for their families.<_o3a_p>

This year, House Republicans have taken significant steps to ensure our veterans receive the respect, rights, and services they deserve. Legislation signed into law this session protects veterans' Second Amendment rights by requiring due process before the VA can restrict these rights, ending a longstanding bureaucratic overreach. We also passed legislation to strengthen partnerships within the VA to combat homelessness among veterans, helping those in need get back on their feet.

Our veterans deserve the opportunity to succeed in the country they so valiantly defended, which is why I introduced the Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion (VSAFE) Act of 2024 to better protect veterans from the rising threat of scams and fraud targeting their hard-earned benefits. Veterans should never have to worry about being taken advantage of, especially after giving so much to our country.

I also led the Ernest Peltz Accrued Veterans Benefits Act, named in honor of a North Country WWII veteran, which improves the process of issuing pension benefits payments administered by the VA that are impacted by the death of the beneficiary. We must ensure that the families of veterans are cared for and that their benefits are not delayed or jeopardized.

When I think of our veterans, I think of the countless nights they spent away from their families, the years spent serving in foreign lands, and the constant risks they took on our behalf. I think of the spouses and children who held down the fort at home, waiting anxiously for their loved ones to return. The weight of their sacrifice is something we can never fully repay, but we can honor it by standing by them when they return, ensuring that they are cared for, respected, and given every opportunity to succeed.

Today and every day, we owe our veterans a debt that goes far beyond words. We owe them our gratitude, our support, and our unwavering commitment to ensuring their needs are met. As we enjoy the freedoms they fought to protect, let us never forget the heavy price they paid. Let us never forget the service members who stood on the front lines, who answered the call of duty, and who put their country before themselves.<_o3a_p>

To all our veterans, from the bottom of my heart, thank you. Your bravery, your sacrifice, and your dedication to this nation are an inspiration to us all. It is my greatest honor to represent you, and I pledge to continue fighting for you every single day.<_o3a_p>

Permalink: https://stefanik.house.gov/2024/11/icymi-stefanik-oped-in-watertown-daily-times-honoring-our-heroes-on-veterans-day