Gottheimer Honors Veterans at Ridgewood Veterans Day Service, Advocates for Veteran Care

Standing up for those who have bravely born our country’s cause

RIDGEWOOD, NJ – Today, Monday, November 11, 2019, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) honored Veterans Day and all those who have served, delivered remarks at Ridgewood’s Veterans Day Services with American Legion Post 53, and advocated for better veteran care.

Gottheimer spoke alongside Ridgewood Mayor Ramon Hache, Post Commander Bob Paoli, Legionnaire Ed Houlihan, and Fifth District students. The service included speeches from veterans, Ridgewood Elementary students, and a ceremony by the Ridgewood Police Department color guard.

“One of my bedrock responsibilities is to always have the backs of those who’ve had ours. There is nothing more solemn. Nothing more sacred in the oath that I’ve taken,” Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) said today. “These are not red or blue issues – they are red, white, and blue. I’ve been proud to work across the aisle in Congress on ways to improve veterans’ benefits and care. Of course, our fight for our democracy and our veterans is far from over, there is much more to be done, and I will never stop fighting for our veterans. After sacrificing and struggling for so much, our veterans and their families should never struggle to get the care or recognition you so rightfully deserve.”

During this Congress, Gottheimer has helped lead several initiatives to fight for North Jersey’s veterans:

• Congressman Gottheimer is working with New Jersey’s VA Director to lower wait times and drive times for veterans; boost access to closer doctors, hospitals, and other facilities; create a female veteran-focused clinic in New Jersey; and increase mental health care access in Newton and Bergen.
• The House passed Congressman Gottheimer’s bipartisan legislation to invest in filling the more than 49,000 vacant positions at the VA.
• The House passed Congressman Gottheimer’s bipartisan legislation to increase investment for the Veterans Health Administration to specifically hire more mental health professionals.
• Congressman Gottheimer cosponored and helped pass H.R. 299 – the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, on a 410 to zero vote, to extend disability benefits covering medical conditions associated with Agent Orange exposure to those who served on ships off the coast of Vietnam, known as “Blue Water” Navy veterans. The President signed this bill into law this year.
• Congressman Gottheimer presented Tuskegee Airmen Bronze Medal to 100-year-old veteran Private Roscoe Draper at his home in Westwood.