Beverly Press - Ted Lieu Goes to Bat for West L.A. Veterans

News Article

By Jonathan Van Dyke

Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles) recently met with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs secretary Bob McDonald to talk about his concerns relating to veterans issues.
"Secretary McDonald and I had a very productive discussion about the Greater Los Angeles VA and how we can live up to our promise to take care of those who have sacrificed so much for our country," Lieu said. "It is clear from my conversation with the secretary that he cares deeply about our homeless veterans."
Lieu believes there are a lot of challenges in Los Angeles -- and across the country -- when it comes to assisting our nation's homeless veterans, but he said he also believes McDonald is moving the department in the right direction.
"I invited him to come to my district, which has more homeless veterans than any other in the country, in order to tour the West L.A. VA campus, one of the largest in the nation," Lieu said.
Lieu wants to work with McDonald and other stakeholders, including Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, to find ways to effectively deliver care and benefits for veterans, and to end veterans' homelessness.
"I conveyed to the secretary that the West Los Angeles VA campus can be a part of the solution to reducing veterans' homelessness, rather than a problem," Lieu said. "Secretary McDonald is a strong, compassionate leader who shares the same goals."
Lieu was recently selected to serve on the budget committee, and he said he would fight to increase funding to help the nation's homeless veterans, including more funding for housing vouchers.
"Ending veterans' homelessness will be challenging and difficult," Lieu said. "But fighting for those who fought for us is the least we can do. As a veteran myself, this is personal."

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