Veterans Day Statement from Representative Mikie Sherrill

Parsippany, NJ – Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) reflected today on the importance of honoring our nation’s heroes by making sure that we keep faith with our veterans. Representative Sherrill, a former U.S. Navy pilot, has been highly involved in supporting the military community and their families in the 11th District since taking her seat in January 2019. In observance of Veterans Day, Representative Sherrill released the following statement:

“I served with so many wonderful men and women who made sacrifices to keep our country safe. I am honored to work on behalf of our nation’s veterans, including the nearly 28,000 veterans in our community. From the WWII veterans I’ve met during the 75th Anniversary of D-Day commemorations, to the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who have recently returned home to us, North Jersey is stronger because of our veterans.

“I’ve fought to honor that sacrifice by passing legislation that will help all our veterans, no matter when or where they served. We must make sure that whether a Blue Water Navy veteran, an Iraq veteran exposed to toxic chemicals from burn pits, or a woman veteran who needs access to a mammogram, the VA provides the care our servicemembers have earned.

“But our work doesn’t stop there. We need to make sure that veterans have help translating their skills into the civilian workforce, have access to PTSD treatment through partnerships with service dogs, and that their families are taken care of after their service is over. My team and I are committed to helping veterans in North Jersey, and I will continue to push Congress to fulfill the promises we’ve made to those who serve and put their lives on the line for our country.”

Representative Sherrill has led several efforts during her first year in Congress to fight for our nation’s veterans:

• Representative Sherrill launched the Servicewomen and Women Veterans Congressional Caucus, and as Vice Chair leads the group’s efforts to advocate and legislate on behalf of women veterans and active duty servicewomen.

• In February, Representative Sherrill successfully amended the Veterans Access to Child Care Act to ensure military sexual trauma is included on the list of services covered for child care at the VA, to mandate the VA publicly notify veterans about the expanded child care services, and to establish standards for care givers.

• In March, Representative Sherrill led a bipartisan letter to Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie asking him to “implement specific measures to track and prioritize both the cultural and physical transformation within Department of Veterans’ Affairs medical facilities to equitably serve women veterans.”

• In June, Representative Sherrill introduced a resolution designating Women Veterans Appreciation Day, a companion to a Senate resolution introduced by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN).

• As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Representative Sherrill fought for provisions to support our veterans in the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act of 2019, including a provision to improve collaboration between the Department of Defense and the VA in the Women’s Health Transition Training pilot program.

• Representative Sherrill co-sponsored critical bipartisan bills passed by the House to assist veterans, including the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, the Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers Act, the Veteran Treatment Court Coordination Act of 2019, and the Homeless Veteran Families Act.

• Representative Sherrill’s District Office staff has worked with veterans in the 11th District on healthcare claims at the VA, military benefits, and obtaining service records.

Representative Sherrill is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and served in the United States Navy for nearly ten years as a helicopter pilot. She is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, the bipartisan For Country Caucus, and serves as Vice Chair of the Servicewomen and Women Veterans Caucus.

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