Veterans

There is no higher priority to me than fighting for those who chose to serve their country in uniform. As a 20-year Navy veteran, I know firsthand the unique challenges and opportunities that our veterans face as they transition out of service.

As a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I work closely with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find ways to support veterans and their families. On the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee, I have pressed the VA to find ways to streamline jobs programs to make them easier to use for veterans, and I am a cosponsor of the Reduce Unemployment for Veterans of All Ages Act. This bill will repeal a limitation preventing veterans who have been out of the service for longer than 12 years from participating in employment programs. I also joined the leading Republican on the Committee in cosponsoring a bill to allow veterans to qualify for in-state tuition in any state they choose.

I am also advocating on behalf of Gold Star families harmed by the 2017 tax law. Together with a bipartisan group of cosponsors, I introduced the Gold Star Family Tax Relief Act, which would repeal an error in the 2017 tax reform bill that was causing some Gold Star families to pay thousands of dollars in additional taxes on their survivor benefits. This bill passed the House as part of a larger legislative package. With the support of Democrats, Republicans, and nonpartisan organizations, we are working to fix a flaw in our tax law and provide more financial security to America's most heroic families.