Sherrod Brown talks with vets in Youngstown

YOUNGSTOWN, OH – Today, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) joined Mahoning Valley veterans at the Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission to discuss ways to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the harmful consequences of VA privatization. Brown will take the veterans’ ideas back to Washington as he considers the Trump Administration’s next nominee to head VA. 

 

After Dr. Ronny Jackson withdrew his nomination in light of serious allegations, Brown called on the Trump Administration to move swiftly to nominate someone to head the Department of Veterans Affairs who has earned the support of veterans groups and who will stand up to political pressures to dismantle and privatize the VA.

 

“Millions of American veterans depend on VA for health care and benefits, and they deserve a strong leader at the top who will stand up to political pressures and work every day to improve care for them,” said Brown. “President Trump needs to move quickly to nominate a VA Secretary who has earned the support of veterans and is fully vetted and ready for the job. This chaos caused by the White House has gone on too long already, and we can’t let it get in the way of VA’s critical mission.”

 

Brown was joined today by Ohio veterans from Mahoning Valley veterans’ organizations, including AMVETS, DAV, VFW, Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission, the Youngstown State University Veterans Resource Center, and the Eastern Ohio Military Affairs Commission.

 

“Since all Veterans cannot attend the senate hearings in Washington to express our concerns and issues, it is encouraging to know that Senator Brown is interested in listening to us.  He is our voice within the Veteran community,” said Susan Krawchyk, Executive Director of the Mahoning County Veterans Service Commission.

 

Brown has said any nominee must commit to oppose efforts to privatize the VA and win the support of veterans in order to earn his vote. He will continue to push any VA nominee to improve VA healthcare for Ohio veterans, strengthen VA’s workforce, and expand benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances during service.

 

Brown is the longest-serving U.S. Senator from Ohio on the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. 

 

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