Veterans & Armed Forces Archives - Congresswoman Cheri Bustos

Ensuring our National Security and Standing up for our Veterans

After more than a decade at war and with ISIS terrorists doing everything in their power to spread violence across the globe, America must be both tough and smart to ensure our national security. In order to best secure our national interests and protect the American people, as well as our allies in the international community, it is vitally important that we ensure our armed forces remain the best-trained, best-prepared and best-equipped in the world.

A strong military is in the interest of the nation as a whole, as well as our region. The Rock Island Arsenal in the Quad-Cities, the Air National Guard unit based outside Peoria, and major aerospace companies in Rockford employ many thousands across our district. That’s why I’ve made it a priority to ensure that we’re providing our military with the tools they need to succeed while positioning our region to continue to be a leader in our national defense efforts.

But, as we provide our troops with everything they need to get the job done, we must also keep our promise to our veterans who have bravely served our nation, many of whom made tremendous sacrifices on our behalf. Our veterans have earned the right to the best care and support possible as they return from battlefields overseas. This is why I strongly support providing returning service members with job training, college opportunities, and financial planning in order to help those transitioning back into our communities and the workforce. I also support fully funding veterans’ health care benefits and providing state-of-the-art care for traumatic brain injuries and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I am also working to make sure the Veterans Administration system is easy to navigate and provides veterans with the needed benefits they earned and deserve. This is why I’m making it a priority to hold the VA accountable for the quality and timeliness of the care they provide to those who have worn the uniform. To read about the current data about how our VA Health Clinics and Hospitals are performing, click here.

More on Veterans & Armed Forces

July 14, 2020

Gary Vasquez

“Back in Nov. I contacted your office for help on VA claim for my daughter. I was talking to a Constituent Advocate on this matter. I want to know that I had nothing by a positive response. Staff answered all my questions (sometimes twice), was very respectful, called when they said they would, going above […]

July 13, 2020

James Patrick Bruner

“I contacted Congresswoman Bustos office after requesting my DD214 and noticing I didn’t have all service ribbons on it. After contacting the office I promptly received a phone call. I then filled out all the paperwork they sent me. Shortly after mailing it back I received a letter telling me of the progress of my […]

July 13, 2020

Daniel Williams

“I am a Vietnam veteran. I sent an ‘Application For Correction of Military Record’ with two requests: 1) I feel that I was wrongly reduced in rank prior to discharge and would like the rank of Sergeant reinstated. 2) The Bronze Star is missing my list of medals. I would like this corrected. I mailed […]

July 13, 2020

Franki Cunningham

“I am my father’s guardian. For the past several years I had been receiving my fathers 1099’s for taxes from DFAS. I did not receive them for 2016. I contacted DFAS and they informed me that they sent them to his former address. I informed that I needed a change of address. They could not […]