Fighting for Veterans & Military Families

There’s more to supporting our troops than the typical politician who wraps themselves in the flag and giving patriotic speeches. Our soldiers put their lives on the line for us, and they deserve much more than hollow words of praise.

My Dad and two of my three brothers served in the Navy. I was born in Norfolk, Virginia when my dad served as was my brother Scott. My dad was on in the Artic Sea and couldn’t be reached when Scott was born. There was a lot of relief when the message got through a week later and my dad came back to see the three of us. Unfortunately, within 36 hours, dad was deployed to the Cuban Missile blockade zone. My mom and dad experienced the pressure of these and other tours of duty with a growing family. I’m proud of dad’s and my brothers’ service. It is just part of why working for veterans and military families is one of my top priorities.

As state Co-Chair of the Warrior-to-Citizen Campaign, I worked with businesses, local communities, and state government to help soldiers and their families with deployment and reintegration issues. As an attorney and an advocate, I’ve helped veterans with health care and housing issues. In the Minnesota Senate, I led efforts including to put into law leaves of absence for the families of service members seriously injured or killed and provide for returning service members, expanding Minnesota’s GI Bill and providing counseling services for returning soldiers.

One of my top priorities in Congress will be effectively serving those who have served or are still serving our country – and their families. I will continue to work to make sure veterans get the benefits they earned, advocate for reform in military health care to make it work better for soldiers and their families, improve veterans health care including adequate funding for the VA, and focus on employment and reintegration issues facing our citizen-soldiers - National Guard and Reserve members and their families.