Durbin Meets With Illinois Veterans With Wounded Warrior Project
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, today met with Illinois veterans with the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), an organization that focuses on supporting post-9/11 veterans, caregivers, and families of veterans who incurred a physical or mental injury during their service. During their meeting, Durbin and the veterans discussed the importance of adequately staffing VA medical centers with mental health professionals as veterans are one and a half times more likely to die by suicide because of their exposure to traumatic events.
Durbin also spoke about the implementation of the Honoring Our PACT Act, which was passed last year. The legislation expands eligibility for health care for veterans who suffered from toxic exposure in the line of duty.
“When Americans sign up to serve our country in the military, we promise that we will not leave them behind. I appreciated the opportunity to meet directly with Illinois veterans to hear about what they need to care for their wellbeing, as well as that of their families,” said Durbin. “I’ll continue to honor these veterans’ service by being an outspoken voice to ensure access to the care they earned and ensure that the PACT Act is properly, and swiftly, implemented.”
A photo of the meeting is available here.
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