Issue Position: Veterans

Issue Position

All Americans should be indebted to the men and women who served in our military. As the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health and the only member of the Michigan delegation on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Dr. Dan is working to improve care for our veterans to ensure they receive all the benefits to which they have earned protecting our nation.

With more than 68,000 military veterans living in Northern Michigan, Dr. Dan believes veterans' concerns must be a top priority for Congress. In an effort to effectively represent this constituency, Dr. Dan sought a position on the Veterans' Affairs Committee to be a voice for First District veterans in the House of Representatives. Having served as a VA physician at the Oscar G. Johnson Medical Center in Iron Mountain for nearly 20 years, he has applied this experience to his committee work and continues to focus his attention on serving our men and women in uniform. In addition, he formed a Veterans Advisory Council made up with local veteran leaders to help ensure that the needs and concerns of our local veterans are a top priority.

"As a father of a daughter who served in the Afghanistan conflict, and former VA doctor, I have a strong appreciation for the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform. When bureaucrats in Washington drag their feet and don't do their jobs, the people who suffer are our veterans back here in Michigan. We must continuously improve the quality of and access to VA health care." -- Dr. Dan Benishek

A top priority of Dr. Dan has been to reduce the disability claims backlog at the Department of Veterans' Affairs. With more and more allegations being raised concerning disability claims at the VA, Dr. Dan has worked tirelessly to find answers and solutions for the current problems facing our veterans. This is unacceptable and must be improved.

Dr. Dan wrote legislation to hold those who are not doing their jobs at the VA accountable for their actions. Veterans deserve to have timely access to their benefits and Dr. Dan has been working hard to make sure this is the case.

Dr. Dan is concerned the VA lacks the resources to treat the influx of returning soldiers suffering from PTSD and TBI. After visiting Afghanistan and our troops stationed there, Dr. Dan believes the VA must pursue every option to ensure they are appropriately staffed with mental health professionals who can treat these "invisible wounds." He is working with veterans to form legislation that will provide more comprehensive mental health care to veterans.

Dr. Dan was also successful in introducing a bill and getting it enacted into law that allows veteran organizations to have access to government surplus equipment. The bill was based on a suggestion from a local Northern Michigan veteran.

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