The lone military veteran in Colorado’s congressional delegation was chosen today for a seat on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
John Salazar, who served in the Army from 1973 to 1976, wants to tackle the issue of funding veterans’ health care.
“Being a veteran myself and being the father of a veteran, I understand the issues that most veterans are impacted with,” said Salazar, D-Manassa. “My father was a World War II veteran and I believe that this would be a proud day for him.”
He advocates assured funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs, backing a bill that creates a funding formula tied to the number of veterans and the consumer price index. The Bush Administration has opposed this, instead giving the VA a budget each year, the same process used for other federal agencies.
“When you look out into rural Colorado, you see many veterans struggling,” Salazar said. “It’s our moral duty to help them access health care.”
Salazar’s vast district in south and west Colorado, including Pueblo, Grand Junction and Durango, is home to more than 70,000 veterans.
Salazar’s brother – Sen. Ken Salazar, a Democrat – sits on the Senate’s veterans affairs committee.
