Veterans
Our veterans served and sacrificed for our freedom, and we must hold up our end of the bargain. As the proud daughter of a Navy veteran, I have a deep appreciation for those who have served our country. I am committed to protecting the benefits that our veterans have earned.
I also support efforts to aid veterans after they leave active service. We must do more to end veteran homelessness, increase employment opportunities for veterans, and help veterans access quality, affordable higher education.
Veterans also have unique health care needs. Women veterans need access to comprehensive health care, and veterans of all ages need access to mental health services. Veterans of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War may need different health care services than veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. And veterans in rural areas should be able to access the same services and benefits as those in urban areas.
When I visit with veterans at the Portland VA, at the North Coast Clinic in Warrenton, or over coffee in their communities, I am inspired by their deep love of country and commitment to service. If you or a family member are a veteran in need of assistance, my office is available to help: please call my Beaverton office at 503-469-6010 or email me here.
More on Veterans
BEAVERTON, Ore. [08/21/18] – Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) announced that Easterseals Oregon will receive $1.5M in federal funding over three years to provide employment services for homeless veterans in Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties. The funding allows Easterseals Oregon to expand beyond Multnomah County and offer these services for the first time in Washington and Clackamas counties.
Just before Memorial Day, Congress passed a law that could lead to closure of veterans hospitals and send more veterans to private doctors for care. President Trump applauded the law's passage. The AFL-CIO called it "a giant misstep toward privatization."
Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to S. 2372, the VA MISSION Act because the bill falls short in fulfilling our commitment to veterans. Though this legislation contains many positive provisions to support our veterans and their caregivers, on balance it is a short-sighted approach that does not adequately provide for the long-term needs of those who have honorably served our country. The bill subjects funding for VA programming to the nondefense discretionary caps, which leaves it vulnerable to being underfunded or being funded at the expense of other critical programs in the future.
WASHINGTON, DC [04/17/18] – Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, a leader on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement after the Departments of Education and Veterans Affairs
Even as advocates celebrated the opening of Pomeroy Place in Aloha, which will provide housing for 20 low-income veterans and their families, a state official says many more could be built if lawmakers raise the recording fee at their upcoming session.
"We have a lot more work to do. We must end housing instability and homelessness for our veterans, our seniors, those who are disabled, and families," said Kenny LaPoint, assistant director for public affairs of the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department.
ALOHA, Ore. —
A local family is fighting to unite after the Vietnam war. They've been separated for more than 40 years because they've been stuck in the legal immigration process.
Pictures document some of the best moments in life. For Ai Nguyen, photos fill the gaps in his life. The last time he saw his oldest sister, An, and youngest sister, Ngoc, was in Vietnam in 1971, where they took their last family photo together. The two sisters are still in Vietnam.
Nowadays, Ai lives in his comfortable Aloha home with his wife, but it wasn't easy getting here.
This fall I wrapped up a series of six town hall meetings with two final meetings in Cannon Beach and Portland. I celebrated the Portland Thorns' victory in the National Women's Soccer League Championship—go Thorns! Another highlight was working with Senator Jeff Merkley to bring the "I Am Not Invisible" exhibit featuring Oregon women veterans to the nation's capital. Too often women veterans feel invisible, but seeing the faces and stories of women veterans from Oregon in the halls of Congress was a proud moment for me and for women veterans everywhere.
Lee Sitton, a U.S. Air Force Veteran who lives in Sherwood, was one of the guest speakers during a Veterans Day commemoration held Nov. 11 at the Sherwood Center for the Arts. Other guests included U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici who spoke about the need to fulfill the nation's promises to veterans, including improving health care at the VA, working to end veteran homelessness and preventing veteran suicide.