Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40) joined Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA-02) and over 50 colleagues in penning a letter to Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough this week urging the VA to stop spreading misinformation regarding veterans benefits.
“As a wife and sister of U.S. Army veterans, supporting those who have served in our nation’s uniform is deeply personal to me. I will always fight to make sure our veterans get the services that they deserve,” said Kim. “The VA should be focused on providing quality care to our veterans, not misleading veterans and the American public for political purposes. I will keep working to hold the VA accountable and ensure promises are kept to our veterans who fought to protect our freedoms.”
Rep. Kim has supported veterans through actions such as:
- Introducing the Veterans and Family Information Act, a bipartisan bill that became law to ensure that veterans and their caretakers are aware of and can access the benefits they have earned;
- Supporting the Honoring our PACT Act to provide care to 3.5 million U.S. veterans who were exposed to toxins during their time of service. This bill became law last year;
- Hosting a veterans roundtable with local veteran leaders, gold star parents, and the now Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee to discuss expanding access to health care for veterans and other issues;
- Leading the charge to rename two Orange County post offices in Yorba Linda and Placentia after fallen service members; and,
- Working with state and local officials, and Orange County veterans to support an Orange County Veterans Cemetery.
Read the letter HERE or below.
Dear Secretary McDonough:
As you are aware, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued a press release falsely stating that the proposal which became the Limit, Save, Grow Act would threaten medical care for 30 million veterans, worsen wait times for hundreds of thousands of veterans and survivors applying for benefits, and fail to honor the memory of all veterans.
Mr. Secretary, the Department’s assertions are dishonest and shameless. The facts are that nowhere in the Limit, Save, Grow Act is it indicated that the VA budget would be cut. The intent of the legislation is to set a topline number for the entire federal budget. Furthermore, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Chairwoman for the House Committee on Appropriations Kay Granger, Chairman for the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Mike Bost, and others have all stated unequivocally that veterans will be protected, and the VA will be funded. The leaders of the Congressional bodies that oversee and fund the VA have all firmly stated that veterans’ earned care and benefits are not on the table. The VA purposely chose to ignore these facts in favor of baseless political talking points.
Many members of Congress are deeply troubled and personally offended that the Biden Administration continues to use these dishonest talking points to create panic and fear in our veteran populations. The VA’s mission is to care for our veterans who have borne the battle. Our veterans made great sacrifices so that we may have the privilege to live freely in this great Nation. They did not make those sacrifices to be a talking point for a political party’s gain. They did not sacrifice themselves so they could be used as a pawn to create fear and anxiety among their fellow veterans. Political games have absolutely no place in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
