Tom Udall: “I rise today to talk about health care for veterans. This is a critical issue for many veterans who have been left…”

“I rise today to talk about health care for veterans. This is a critical issue for many veterans who have been left behind and to the many who are not getting the care they need. First, I want to say how important it is that we have reached an agreement to restore the cut to pensions for working-age military retirees. This cut in the cost-of-living adjustment for military retirees should never have been included in the budget bill. Let's be clear. The bipartisan budget agreement was critical to New Mexico and our Nation because it rolled back damaging sequestration cuts--cuts that hurt our military and military families. Working-age military retirees should not have to bear the burden. Many of these men and women have given decades of service to our Nation. They were willing to give everything for us. They should get the benefits they have earned. From the beginning I have been working to restore this cut to their COLA benefits. I have been very happy we have a bipartisan agreement to move forward and ensure we keep our promise to them. I come to the floor today to also talk about rural veterans and a rural veterans improvement act. I was proud to introduce this bill with Senator Heller from Nevada earlier this week. When it comes to veterans' health care, we know there are challenges. We know we can do better, and we know we have to do better. Over 6 million veterans live in rural areas, including approximately one-third who fought in Afghanistan and Iraq.…”