November 12, 2018

Castro Statement on Veterans Day

WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today released the following statement:

“On Veterans Day, and every day, we must honor the sacrifices made by our brave men and women in uniform, and remember the generations before them who defended and protected our ideals and freedoms. They continue to be models of patriotism and courage, and it is a great responsibility to ensure our veterans have a simple transition back into civilian life. This includes access to high-quality health care and well-paying jobs, transition support, disability compensation, and educational assistance. Veterans’ issues are one of the few bright spots in the U.S. Congress, and I hope we can rededicate ourselves to working together to ensure no veteran is left in the shadows. I thank our country’s veterans and their families across San Antonio, Texas, and our nation.”

Background: Congressman Castro has spearheaded several legislative initiatives to assist with veterans’ transitions back into civilian life following their service. Congressman Castro introduced the Veterans Crisis Line Improvement Act (H.R. 2198), which requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that when a veteran places a telephone call to any Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facility, the first message a caller hears provides a mechanism by which the caller can quickly and directly connect to the Veterans Crisis Line without ending the telephone call. Congressman Castro also introduced the Family Member Access to Burn Pit Registry Act (H.R. 6027). This legislation would allow for a family member to participate in the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry on behalf of a deceased veteran or service member, which is currently prohibited by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This would enable family members to document the experience of their loved ones while also helping the government analyze long-term health effects of burn pits exposure.

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