Veterans
We can never do enough to repay the sacrifices made by the brave patriots who served in our nation’s armed forces. American veterans deserve our deepest appreciation and respect. They represent our best and brightest, an all-volunteer force serving with honor and distinction under the most difficult of circumstances. They and their families make daily sacrifices that the rest of us cannot begin to comprehend, and all to the benefit of our way of life and our cherished freedom.
One of my top priorities is ensuring that our nation’s military service veterans receive the benefits and care that they need. Since I was first elected to Congress, I have sought to increase choice and expand access to private health care for veterans, increase veteran disability compensation and care, and improve veterans job access. As a matter of fact, I am proud to say that I recently introduced H.R. 6421, the Faster Treatments and Cures for Eye Diseases Act, on July 18, 2018 which would fund translational research and advance treatments and cures for blindness and other causes of severe vision impairment. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimated in 2016 that over 1 million U.S. veterans are blind or visually impaired. We need to do everything we can to help our veterans who are blind or visually impaired improve their level of functioning.
You may be interested to know that I am also a co-sponsor of the following legislation:
- H.R. 1259, the VA Accountability First Act of 2017, was introduced by Congressman David Roe (R-TN). I am a proud co-sponsor of this bipartisan legislation which would provide the VA Secretary increased flexibility to remove, demote, or suspend any VA employee for performance or misconduct. I am also pleased to say that this legislation passed the House of Representatives in March 2017 with my support and is under consideration in the U.S. Senate.
- H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2017, was introduced by Congressman David Valadao (R-CA). I am a proud co-sponsor of this bipartisan legislation which would grant presumptive Agent Orange exposure status to U.S. service members who served in the territorial seas of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. This would enable eligible veterans to receive expedited consideration for Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits if they suffer from any of the diseases the U.S. Government has linked to Agent Orange. I am also pleased to say that this legislation passed the House of Representatives on June 25, 2018 with my support and is under consideration in the U.S. Senate.
While I am proud of the great strides we have made to support our veterans during the 115th Congress, we will never fully repay these brave men and women for their sacrifice to our great nation. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to further build support for our nation’s veterans. For more information concerning work and views related to Veterans issues, please contact our office.
More on Veterans
WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-32), Chairman of the House Committee on Rules, and Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), today introduced the Faster Treatments and Cures for Eye Diseases Act, H.R. 6421, a bipartisan bill to fund translational research and advance treatments and cures for blindness and other causes of severe vision impairment. Joining Congressmen Sessions and Bishop in cosponsoring the bill are Congressmen Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) and Fred Upton (MI-06).
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX) joined Congressman Mike Coffman (R-CO) and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) to introduce H.R. 5191, the ‘Medical Improvement of Neurodegenerative Diseases (MIND) Act of 2018’. H.R. 5191 directs the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) to establish Alzheimer’s disease research, education, and clinical centers and requires a scientific specialization in research likely to be transformative, including the connection between Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressmen Pete Sessions (R-TX), Ken Buck (R-CO), and Walter B. Jones (R-NC) have diligently worked with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to urge them to offer Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) as a treatment option for our nation’s veterans. Last month, the VA made an announcement that two Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities will partner with local providers to offer HBOT as a treatment option for Veterans with persistent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms resistant to standard options.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Rules, released the following statement applauding the passage of a critical measure to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs:
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Rules, released the following statement after voting for three measures to support our nation's veterans:
Washington, DC – Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX), chairman of the House Rules Committee, today issued the following statement on the House’s passage of H.R. 2029, the FY 2016 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act:
Washington, DC—U.S. Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-32) today released the following statement regarding Veterans Day:
Washington, DC – Today, the House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation authored by Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-32) to recognize and report the results and planned expansion of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy in Veterans Affairs medical facilities.
Today, every House Republican and seven Democrats voted against the largest spending bill in American history. With a price tag of $789 billion ($1.1 trillion including interest), this bill exceeds the current cost of the entire Iraq war. Despite bipartisan opposition, the Democrat Majority has chosen to capitalize on an economic crisis by today passing a trillion dollar spending spree that offers very little hope of job creation or economic growth.