Jim Rassmann: Merkley makes vets a priority

Posted by Carla Axtman on February 18, 2008

(This post is by Jim Rassmann, former U.S. Army Special Forces Officer. You may remember Rassmann from his association with John Kerry)

Today marks the one year anniversary of the Walter Reed Army Hospital scandal, as reported in the Washington Post. At that time, many U.S. soldiers recuperating from wounds and injuries sustained while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan were living in conditions not fit for human habitation. Some were stuck in a bureaucratic nightmare, unable to get help from the very government that they had fought for overseas.

It was a national disgrace.

Unfortunately, it seems most people forgot about the scandal at Walter Reed. But last week, Jeff Merkley reminded us that we still have a long way to go to keep our commitment to the men and women who have served in the Armed Forces.

At Huffington Post, Jeff Merkley posted an article underscoring the federal government’s continued failure to live up to its promises and obligations to our veterans. From the Bush Administration trying to weasel out of providing mental health care to veterans to the unwillingness of employers to hire them, Jeff highlights the problems with our government and our society when it comes to treating these men and women with the dignity and respect they deserve.

Last week, Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley stood together with Congresswoman Darlene Hooley as they testified before the Oregon House Veteran’s Affairs Committee. Both are working to pass legislation in Oregon that would provide more paid time for Oregon National Guard troops to transition to civilian life after returning from active duty.

Supporting the troops means keeping the promises to our soldiers and our veterans who served this country and fought for us. Oregon needs a U.S. Senator who understands those commitments and will fight to make sure they’re honored.

That’s why I’m supporting Jeff Merkley for U.S. Senate.