Veterans

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) introduced the K2 Veterans Toxic Exposure Accountability Act yesterday to help veterans who served at Karshi Khanabad (“K2”) Airbase in Uzbekistan to obtain the health screenings and services they need. 

“Veterans of the Fort Campbell-based 5th Special Forces Group and 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment groups were deployed to K2 from 2001-2005,” said Senator Blackburn. “Since...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced a resolution marking today as Women Veterans Appreciation Day in recognition of the anniversary of the signing of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948, which allowed women to serve as permanent members of the military.

“2020 is a landmark year in the history of American women. As we commemorate 100 years of women’s suffrage, we also honor those who have served in our nation’s wars so that we...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) urged Secretary of Defense Mark Esper to address the mental health of servicemembers during social distancing.

“We write today to encourage you to also reflect on the unintended consequences that social distancing measures of isolation and quarantine may have on our service members’ mental, spiritual,...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), unveiled bipartisan legislation yesterday to improve the information technology (IT) system at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Department of Veterans Affairs IT Reform Act holds the VA accountable by increasing transparency into proposed and current IT spending on critical programs for veterans. The bill also ensures that veterans receive timely health care and benefits by requiring the VA to institute...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) introduced Transparency and Effective Accountability Measures for (TEAM) Veteran Caregivers Act to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) caregiver program. The Senators serve together on the Armed Services Committee, and Senator Blackburn serves on the Veterans Affairs Committee.

According to recent reports, caregivers and veterans have been arbitrarily discharged or downgraded from the program,...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) introduced the Providing Veterans Access to In-State Tuition Act. This bipartisan legislation gives student veterans access to in-state tuition rates at public institutions that receive GI Bill payments, regardless of whether the student veteran is a state resident. 

Previously, the provision required the student to be within three years of his or her discharge from active duty. This bill eliminates the...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) spoke on the Senate floor about the VA MISSION Act. 

To watch the speech, click below or HERE.
 

REMARKS AS PREPARED

Thank you, Mister President.

I join my colleagues today to mark the implementation of an updated and more streamlined health care system for veterans made possible by the VA MISSION Act. 

Once the new structure is fully in place, members of the military community who have been neglected for far too long will...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) have introduced a resolution designating June 12, 2019 as Women Veterans Appreciation Day. The resolution seeks to honor the women who have served in the Armed Forces both on and off the battlefield. 

“From the Hello Girls, who served as communications operators in World War I, to the women that disguised themselves as male soldiers to fight in the American Revolution and Civil War, women have played an integral...

Washington, D.C. – Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) introduced a resolution to honor Captain Rosemary Mariner, the Navy’s first female fighter pilot. On February 2, 2019, Captain Mariner was laid to rest in Maynardville, Tennessee, and honored with the first all-female piloted flyover in the history of the United States Navy.

“Throughout her life, Captain Mariner broke barriers that paved the way for women to follow in her footsteps,” said Senator Blackburn....