Dear John,

I want to wish our North Texas veterans a happy Veterans Day! Our veterans have put so much on the line to protect our country and defend our freedom. Today we honor them for their courage and bravery, and recommit to serving them as they have served us.

Since my first day in Congress, I have been working hard to make sure our veterans get the benefits they earned and have the resources they need. It is one of my greatest honors to serve on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee and work to expand opportunities and access to care and services for North Texas veterans and their families. 

It’s why I worked to open the Garland VA Medical Center, and will keep working to expand services there. I also worked to pass my bill, the 2022 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act, which was signed into law by President Biden.

This legislation authorizes $3.4 billion in construction of VA major medical facilities including the new health care center in El Paso. It also expands the new Spinal Cord Injury Center in Dallas, which provides a long-term care wing at the North Texas VA and treats veterans living with spinal cord injuries.

I also voted to pass the Honoring our PACT Act, which finally provides benefits and care to veterans impacted by toxic waste and burn pits while serving. President Biden recently signed the bill into law which I proudly cosponsored. When I visited Afghanistan in 2019, I saw firsthand the impact that toxic burn pits have on our service members and was able to visit Fort Worth with President Biden to discuss how to expand health care access and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances.

It is a credit to our veterans that, despite setbacks and delays, they never gave up and kept fighting to get this bill across the finish line. I am so honored to work alongside them on the Veterans Committee and I am as dedicated as ever to continuing this important work. 

My top priority has always been to make sure our veterans get access to the care they deserve, and that includes reproductive care like abortion. Texas passed one of the strictest abortion bans in the country and because of our high population of women’s veterans, so many women who answered the call to protect our country were not able to get the care they need. 

But, thanks to a new VA rule, women veterans will be able to access abortion services through the VA, in situations of rape, incest or if the life or health of the woman is at risk. In the face of significant attacks on women’s reproductive freedom, I commend the VA for standing up for our veterans' right to reproductive freedom and safety. 

If you or a veteran you know need assistance resolving an issue with the VA, I can help. Give my Richardson office a call at (972) 972-7949 or visit my website at allred.house.gov/services/help-federal-agency.

Again, happy Veterans Day to all who have served. Today and every day, we honor your sacrifice and service to our nation. In Congress, I will continue working to pass meaningful legislation that improves the lives of veterans and service members. It is an honor to serve you, and to represent North Texas, where I was born and raised. 

Sincerely,

Colin Allred
Member of Congress

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