Congressman Cohen Commemorates Veterans Day
MEMPHIS -- Congressman Steve Cohen released the following statement commemorating this year's Veterans Day:
"Each November, we pause to pay special tribute to the brave men and women who have served our country in uniform. This year, we also commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II and cherish our few remaining heroes of that conflict.
"As we honor all our veterans, we must also keep our promises to them with excellent care at Department of Veterans Affairs medical facilities so they receive the high-quality treatment they deserve. For those transitioning out of the armed services back into civilian life, we need to assure them that good-paying jobs and educational opportunities are available. I am proud to work on legislation to ensure veterans receive the benefits they were promised.
"We have thousands of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines stationed all around the world. On this Veterans Day, we thank them for their sacrifice and look forward to their safe return home. I'm disappointed that the ongoing pandemic forced me to cancel my annual Veterans Day event where I have in the past updated you on veterans issues, heard feedback directly from my constituents and thanked you in person. I hope everyone will take the time on this Veterans Day to appreciate the sacrifices made by all our veterans and their families."
Congressman Cohen, a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, introduced the National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Extension Act (H.R. 3304) to ensure that certain members of the National Guard and Reservists who fall on hard economic times after their military service continue to obtain bankruptcy relief without having to fill out the substantial paperwork required by the "means test" under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code. The measure was signed into law in August 2019. Congressman Cohen has also introduced the Putting Our Veterans Back to Work Act to help reduce veteran unemployment and train our veterans for good-paying, high-demand jobs.
To fight for veterans during this difficult time, Congressman Cohen sent a letter urging House and Senate Leadership to include a provision in the next COVID-19 stimulus package that requires lenders participating in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to prioritize businesses owned by veterans, women, minorities, and those in underserved markets. Last month, he voted for the Heroes Act 2.0, which would create a Lifeline Grant Program for the smallest businesses and prioritizes veteran-owned businesses. The Heroes Act 2.0 would also suspend VA debt collection and automatically issue economic impact payments to non-filing veterans based on their VA benefits.
Congressman Cohen is also a cosponsor of the Protect the GI Bill Act, which would increase the transparency and accountability of educational programs that receive GI Bill funding and protect education benefits for veterans whose schools close or lose their accreditation. The bill passed the House on November 12, 2019 and is pending before the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
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