I hope you’re all having an excellent week – and staying warm! Over the last several days, I’ve had the honor of standing up to support our veterans – from speaking at the Veterans Day ceremony at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery to questioning VA officials about the implementation of the new veterans’ health care legislation during a recent VA Committee hearing, I’m fighting hard to ensure that our veterans receive the support they need and have earned.

Celebrating Veterans Day in Boscawen

I was honored to speak at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen in honor of Veterans Day. We came together to honor the courageous men and women who have served in our nation’s Armed Forces to protect our country. These Americans sacrificed to preserve our freedom and way of life, and we must forever honor their service.

My father and father-in-law were both veterans of World War II, so I have seen firsthand the incredible courage and dedication of the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces. On Veterans Day, and every day, our thoughts and prayers are with those we’ve lost, our veterans, active duty service members, and their families and friends. Thank you all for your patriotism, your commitment, and your valor.

Fighting for Granite State Veterans

During a House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing last week, I questioned VA officials about the implementation of the bipartisan Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act that I helped pass into law earlier this year. As we celebrate Veterans Day and continue to honor the brave service of our military men and women, we must provide every veteran with access to the resources and health services he or she needs to make a successful transition back to civilian life. Read more about my role providing oversight at the VA here.

In a VA Subcommittee hearing on Wednesday, I joined my colleagues and several Veteran Service Organizations to discuss a number of bills to improve care for veterans in New Hampshire and across the country. As more and more veterans return from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, I will continue to fight to maintain high-quality health care benefits, access to higher education, and good jobs for our returning service members.

Helping Granite Staters

Recently, I was contacted by Aaron Baillargeon of Atkinson on behalf of his mother-in-law, who had twice been denied a non-immigrant visa from the U.S. Embassy in China that would allow her to spend the holiday season with her family in New Hampshire. My staff was able to work with the Embassy to secure this visa on the 3^rdattempt, and now Aaron’s family will get to be together during the holidays. If my office may ever be of assistance with a problem you are facing, please contact my staff at 603-226-1002 so we may help you resolve your problem or get you the information you need. 

Thanks for everything you do to make New Hampshire such a wonderful place to live!