As a veteran, I know firsthand the many sacrifices our brave men and women in uniform make to defend our nation and our freedoms. In turn, we as a nation have made a solemn commitment to provide our veterans with the support and care we need back at home. Unfortunately today, too many veterans face enormous challenges, and while many politicians claim to support the veteran community, we need real champions who are committed to our priorities and will always stand up to defend those who have defended the United States.
That is why I am proud to stand with Gov. Maggie Hassan and to serve on her Veterans for Maggie Leadership Council as she works to serve New Hampshire’s veterans, and all Granite Staters, in the U.S. Senate.
As a retired colonel in the National Guard, I have seen firsthand the challenges veterans face and the type of leadership we need to take them on. Gov. Hassan demonstrates that leadership every single day. She has dedicated herself to addressing the needs of veterans and always putting New Hampshire first.
The governor is fighting hard for a stronger and more innovative economy that works for all of our people and small businesses. She worked to pass two fiscally responsible budgets, without an income or sales tax and has developed initiatives critical to helping small businesses grow. As a result of her hard work, we’re seeing progress all across New Hampshire and our unemployment rate is at the lowest in over 15 years.
Gov. Hassan knows how important it is to include veterans in that shared success, and has made strong efforts to support veteran hiring in both the public and private sector.
Knowing that a strong economy begins with an educated workforce, Gov. Hassan has worked to make higher education more affordable and accessible for veterans by signing legislation to waive the residency requirement for veterans to receive in-state tuition rates at state colleges and universities.
Gov. Hassan also has a strong record of working to support mental health care and curb homelessness in the veteran community.
Although suicides in the National Guard nationally remain alarmingly high, Congress has for years failed to authorize and fund a viable community-based behavioral program to address this crisis. Gov. Hassan’s proven skills as governor in fully leveraging state-based resources to craft viable mental health programs are sorely needed in the Senate to legislatively advance overdue cooperative federal and state mental health solutions.
She has worked to protect elderly veterans by increasing funding for the New Hampshire Veterans Home to add 25 additional beds, signed a capital budget that included funding for the expansion of the dementia wing at the home and has made the mental health of veterans a top priority. She worked across party lines to establish a permanent commission to study the effects of service-related Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and traumatic brain injury.
As many of our fellow veterans tragically grapple with chronic homelessness, Gov. Hassan has worked with state and federal officials on initiatives to get homeless veterans off the street and into permanent housing.
And I am especially grateful that Gov. Hassan has stood up for the men and women of New Hampshire’s National Guard, fighting against federal cuts to National Guard resources and advocating for the KC-46A to be based here in New Hampshire at the Pease Air National Guard Base.
As commander in chief of New Hampshire’s National Guard, Gov. Hassan understands the importance of keeping our nation and our communities safe. She has a thoughtful approach to protecting our country, knowing that the United States must continue to be the greatest force for good in the world, while also using our military might only as a last resort.
During my years actively lobbying for a nonprofit organization on Capitol Hill to improve medical, educational and personnel benefits for National Guard members, veterans and their families, I worked with senators from both parties to advance the priorities of the National Guard and our veterans. In that role, I saw how important it was to have leaders who are committed to finding commonsense, bipartisan solutions. And that is exactly Gov. Hassan’s approach to problem-solving. Time and again, she has worked across party lines to address challenges facing veterans. We need more of that roll up your sleeves and get it done approach in the U.S. Senate.
In the Senate, Gov. Hassan will continue her efforts to ensure veterans receive the support they need to get ahead and thrive. She has made clear that she will fight to reform the VA, improve educational opportunities for veterans, and continue her work to end veterans’ homelessness.
The governor will bring her common sense and commitment to problem-solving to Washington, D.C., something that is all too often lacking in the hallowed halls of our nation’s Capitol.
Gov. Hassan has demonstrated that she has the right priorities, and she has proven that she has what it takes to get results for veterans.
(Peter J. Duffy of Manchester is a retired colonel in the National Guard.)