Pelosi: With Wounded Warriors Program, Congress Shows Its Commitment to Meeting Needs of America's Veterans

Washington, D.C - Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Members of Congress held a press conference on the steps of the Capitol today on the House Wounded Warriors Program. The Wounded Warrior Program, an initiative begun by the Speaker during the 110th Congress, was established to create fellowships that provide employment opportunities for wounded or disabled veterans within the House of Representatives. Below are the Speaker's remarks:

"Good afternoon.  Last year, the House established the Wounded Warriors Program to offer employment opportunities on leadership, committee, and Member staffs to wounded and disabled service members.

"Today, I am proud to be joined by Majority Leader Hoyer, who will be with us momentarily, Congressman John Carter, Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Shultz, Congressman Dave Reichert, Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, Congressman Chris Carney, VA Undersecretary Admiral Patrick Dunne, CAO Dan Beard; and Patricia Orsini, director of the Wounded Warrior Program as we announce the hiring of the first nine of the 25 wounded warriors who will continue to serve America as staff members in Congress.

"By participating in the Wounded Warriors Program, the Speaker's Office will benefit from the service of retired Marine Corps Major William Collins, who spent two tours in Iraq helping establish the civilian judicial system.

"Now, Will will continue his service to our nation by advising my office on the needs of American veterans and how we can ensure that every returning servicemen and women receive the medical care and benefits that they were promised and that they deserve.

"In my acknowledgment of those who were here, I did not mention Congressman Chet Edwards of Texas who has also joined us, who is working to make sure Congress keeps our promises to our servicemen and women.  Thank you, Chet.

"William Collins is joined in his service in the House by eight more of America's veterans, seven of whom are with us today. I want to acknowledge those who are here: Daniel Lasko with Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, Zachary Guill with Congressman Dave Reichert, Scott MacDonald with Congressman Jim Himes, Jarod Myers with Congressman John Carter, Richard Leonard with Congressman John Kline, George Caridad with Congressman Robert Wittman, and James Dougherty with Congressman Christopher Carney.  Eric Lahammer with Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin could not be with us today due to bad weather in South Dakota.

"As Speaker of the House, I am proud to welcome them and to thank them for their continued service to our country. For us this is a very, very proud day. The Wounded Warriors Program is only one part of the New Direction Congress' sustained commitment to meeting the needs of America's veterans.

"Over the last two sessions of Congress, we have provided a larger increase in veterans' health care in just two years than in the previous 12 years. We paid special attention to the mental health needs of the 330,000 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan and we enacted the new GI Bill to provide our brave men and women serving in uniform a full, four-year college scholarship.

"On the battlefield the military pledges to never leave a soldier behind. In the New Direction Congress, we pledge to never leave a veteran behind."