U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), a member of the House Armed Services Committee, is hosting a number of events in the next two weeks to focus on the issues that matter to local veterans and servicemembers.
“The Second District is home to over 75,000 veterans as well as Naval Station Everett and Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, two military installations that are vital to our national security and regional economy,” said Rep. Larsen. “One of my most important responsibilities as a member of Congress is to support our service members, veterans and their families, ensuring that they get the benefits they deserve.”
Today, Larsen met with local veterans to listen to their concerns and discuss the work he is doing to ensure that the men and women who served our country get the resources and health care they need and deserve. Larsen also toured the new Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Mount Vernon, a facility that he worked hard to open so health care and services are more accessible for veterans in the 2nd District. The clinic set the goal of enrolling 6,500 veterans within the first 3 years of being open but is well ahead of that goal with 4,619 veterans enrolling for services within the first 14 months of being open.
“I worked hard to bring veterans’ health care closer to home by teaming up with local veterans to open the veterans’ clinic in Mount Vernon,” said Rep. Larsen. “Veterans in Northwest Washington fought hard to protect our country and fought hard to make this clinic a reality. I am pleased that so many local veterans are enrolling at this clinic so they no longer have to travel to Seattle to get the health care and services they need and deserve.”
Earlier this year, Larsen supported providing much-needed care and benefits to veterans exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam. The Institute of Medicine ruled that there was enough evidence to link ischemic heart disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and B Cell leukemias to exposure to Agent Orange, which cleared the way for over 80,000 Vietnam vets suffering from these diseases to get the benefits they deserve – and Congress recently approved $13 billion to support these vets as part of the Fiscal Year 2010 Supplemental Appropriations Act.
“It has been a long struggle to get benefits to veterans who were exposed to Agent Orange in Vietnam. I supported expanding healthcare and benefits to more men and women exposed to Agent Orange because we have an obligation to take care of veterans who suffer illnesses due to their service to our country,” said Rep. Larsen.
Tonight, Larsen will deliver remarks at the Josh Fueston Swim to Live Banquet, an event to honor the memory of Josh Fueston, a local soldier who lost his battle with post-traumatic stress disorder.
“Later tonight, I will speak at a memorial banquet for Joshua Fueston, a young soldier who took his own life while undergoing treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. His tragic loss is part of a heart-aching trend. It is clear that we must do a better job diagnosing and treating soldiers and veterans suffering from mental health problems such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder,” said Rep. Larsen. “As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am committed to providing our men and women in uniform with a high quality of life and the support services they need.”
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