Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) joined the commissioners of St. Mary's County and Leonardtown to pay tribute to Fifth District veterans this morning at the 39th annual Veterans Day Parade in Leonardtown. He also delivered remarks at the Veterans Memorial Ceremony following the parade.
"I was proud to join in paying tribute to those who have served our nation in uniform," said Congressman Hoyer. "We owe our freedom, our security, and all the opportunities we enjoy to the men and women who risked life and limb on our behalf. While we offer them our thanks every day, today is a special occasion to reflect on what they have done and what we must do to keep faith with our veterans."
"Right now, veterans in Maryland and across the country are homeless, without jobs, suffering from depression, and many are at risk for suicide," continued Congressman Hoyer. "As a nation and as communities, we are responsible for making sure that our veterans have access to jobs, affordable housing, and the care they need. Let us never forget our local veterans who served in defense of our freedom. We must continue to look to them as an example and always meet our commitment to do right by those who did so much for us."
Congressman Hoyer has been working to provide additional resources for veterans and address problems at the Department of Veteran Affairs. In July, he voted to pass legislation that cuts down on wait times and provides funding to help hire more doctors so our veterans can get the care they earned through their service. Hoyer also helped to secure funding for a new, ADA-compliant Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Charlotte Hall along with a new satellite site in Lexington Park. Hoyer also worked with area groups and local officials this year to get 21 HUD-VA supportive housing program (HUD-VASH) vouchers allocated to Southern Maryland to be used for housing veterans in Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary's counties.