Pelosi to Applaud Increased Benefits for Veterans
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will tout an expansion of veterans benefits under her watch in an address to the American Legion on Wednesday, while vowing to do more.
“We have made remarkable progress, but our work is not complete,” she is expected to say, according to excerpts of her speech released Tuesday. “Our work will not be complete until every American who has fought for their country abroad can find a job when they come home. Our work will not be complete until there is not one homeless veteran on any street in the land of the free and the home of the brave.
“And our work will not be complete until we ensure that no veteran in need of care is ever turned away from a VA medical facility and no veteran is left to wade through mountains of bureaucratic red tape to settle their claims. And we must make renewed commitment to treating the signature wounds of today’s wars,” she plans to say, referring to traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Pelosi will note the bipartisan support behind expanding veterans benefits in recent years, but she will point out that the benefits were a priority for her as Speaker.
Her comments will come as her party struggles to sell its accomplishments during a limp economy ahead of midterm elections.