Billy Long: Members of Congress working together to help veterans

(From Seventh District Congressman Billy Long)

Even before being elected to office, one of my favorite callers during my days as a morning radio co-host on KWTO was a WWII veteran named Ruth who was always lively and upbeat. Helping veterans like Ruth who have served this great country is one of the best parts of being a Congressman.

Over the past year, I have had the privilege of voting in favor of legislation that betters veterans’ lives as well as seeing the Springfield VA clinic open its doors in December followed by the Joplin VA clinic that opened earlier this February. These state-of-the-art facilities will serve thousands of veterans in not only southwest Missouri, but also in the four-state area. Both clinics will provide veterans with a variety of services, such as primary care, mental health, dental and optometry.

Thankfully, taking care of veterans is still one of the few areas where members of Congress come together and make significant bipartisan change. Last year, a number of bills were signed into law that help veterans get the care they need in less time by making the Veterans Choice Program permanent, helping veterans better transition to civilian life through improved benefits and streamlining VA care programs.

This year is no different. So far, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs has introduced 14 bills and the House of Representatives has passed three bills, a majority of them having bipartisan support.

Along with Congress’ work, President Trump has also been a strong advocate on behalf of veterans. Since being sworn into office, President Trump continues to expand services to our nation’s veterans. In 2018 alone, the president secured more than $70 billion in funding for the VA that will provide services to veterans with issues such as mental health and opioid abuse. In addition to securing additional funding for the VA, under President Trump more than 4,000 VA employees have been removed, demoted or suspended for performances that hinder veterans getting the care they deserve.

I look forward to continuing my work helping veterans through passing meaningful bipartisan legislation and meeting with veterans in throughout Southwest Missouri. It’s one of the best perks of the job and something that I will always enjoy.