Political Quotes

“I thank the chairman for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, I rise to add my voice to those calling for a cost-of- living adjustment for our military veterans. As Americans prepare to observe Veterans Day next week, it's appropriate that this body is preparing to vote on the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act. Mr. Speaker, this bill would provide a much-needed 3.6 percent increase in benefits to our veterans, their children, and surviving spouses. The men and women of America's Armed Forces answered our call when the country had asked, and now we must do the same for them. My State, New Hampshire, has the country's sixth-largest percentage of veterans by population. Nearly 128,000 former service men and women call the Granite State home. And many of them are hurting. The national unemployment rate among veterans is 13 percent, more than 4 percent higher than the general population. That's why on Thursday, November 10, I'm hosting a special Veterans Job Fair in my home State of New Hampshire at Manchester Community College from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to help them find work. And we've got more than 40 willing employers who are attending, looking to find jobs for our men and women returning to New Hampshire. I urge my colleagues to join with me in passing this important cost- of-living increase for the men and women who have given so much to all of us.”