Fighting for Veterans

Dear Friend,

Last week, I visited the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center in Albuquerque to discuss the needs of New Mexico's military veterans and their families. I wanted to personally thank VA officials and medical staff for their roles in providing COVID-19 testing and vaccine services to area-veterans, and for opening the medical center's ICU beds to non-veterans from the Navajo Nation during the pandemic.

PHOTO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich visits the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center in Albuquerque, February 18, 2021.

In my new role as chairman of the Military Construction (MILCON), Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, I will oversee all funding for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which provides health care services to millions of veterans, benefits to help service members transition back to civilian life, and national cemeteries that provide tributes to service members' sacrifice to our nation. I am committed to fighting for all the resources and funding the VA needs to keep America's promise to our service members and their families.

I am proud to have several veterans in my family and to serve a state with one of the highest rates of military volunteerism in the nation. Veterans deserve more than just words of gratitude for their sacrifice when they return home. They deserve the quality care and benefits they earned. In my chairmanship, I will be especially focused on ensuring a robust Covid-19 vaccination program through the entire VA system, improving telehealth services for rural veterans, and providing better health care and housing assistance for veterans experiencing homelessness.

My new chairmanship also oversees funding for new military construction projects. I am looking forward to taking all that I have learned over 12 years serving on both the House and Senate Armed Services Committee to continue strengthening the pivotal national defense role of New Mexico's military installations--Cannon, Holloman, Kirtland, and White Sands Missile Range--and our defense research laboratories. Personnel at our labs and bases must have modern facilities to execute their national security missions and contribute to New Mexico's economy.

My office has helped hundreds of veterans across New Mexico access their care and benefits. If you or a family member is having trouble filing a claim with the VA, receiving benefits, accessing health benefits or military records, replacing medals, or other veterans issues, you can contact my office by calling (505) 346-6601 or by visiting the Veterans Resources Center on my website.

Sincerely,

MARTIN HEINRICH

United States Senator