Veterans
Taking care of our veterans is not just my duty, but a moral obligation that reflects our deep gratitude for their sacrifices and service to our nation. These brave individuals answered duty's call and dedicated themselves to defending our freedoms and protecting our way of life. Ensuring their well-being is a matter of honoring their commitment and recognizing the challenges they may face after leaving the military.
Currently, I serve on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, where I am part of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. Watch me question a witness in a full Committee oversight hearing here. Watch me give opening remarks about the issues facing our rural veterans here. Watch me speak in support of my bill, the Senator Elizabeth Dole Act, on the House floor here.
I am fortunate to represent nearly 80,000 veterans in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District. Showing up to serve veterans means providing comprehensive healthcare, mental health support, educational opportunities, and employment resources in order to empower veterans in our community and beyond to transition successfully into civilian life. I am committed to pursuing legislation, funding, and other efforts that ensure our veterans receive the benefits and support they rightfully earned.
This is why I organized a Veterans Advisory Council to hear directly from those who served about the unique challenges facing our veterans and how I can continue to use my position to help. The council, which is chaired by Maj. Gen. Don Shepperd (Ret.), is comprised of veterans from the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, and U.S. Navy, as well as spouses, survivors, and caregivers, and identified specific areas of focus, which include veterans’ transition into civilian life, access to housing, mental health and suicide prevention, and workforce and education opportunities. Meet the Veterans Advisory Council below:
| NAME | BRANCH |
| Tom Davis | U.S. Army |
| Justine Ducote | U.S. Army |
| Nick Franco | U.S. Marine Corps |
| Ben Buehler Garcia | Veteran Advocate |
| Erika Jaramillo | U.S. Air Force |
| Allen Kinnison | U.S. Air Force |
| Jeff Lavender | U.S. Army |
| Nancy Ledesma | U.S. Marine Corps |
| Young Mayberry | U.S. Air Force |
| Clea McCaa | U.S. Army |
| George Murga | U.S. Navy |
| Tom Murphy | U.S. Air Force |
| Cody Nichols | U.S. Army |
| Don Shepperd | U.S. Air Force |
| Amber Smith | Veteran Advocate |
| Jane Strain | U.S. Army |
| Bob Wells | U.S. Navy |
| Alex Wright | U.S. Air Force |
In my freshman term in office, I introduced ten pieces of veteran-focused legislation. You can find a breakdown of those bills, and all the legislation I introduced in the 118th Congress, here. Three of these pieces of legislation passed the House of Representatives last Congress:
- The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act (H.R. 8371), which was the flagship veterans’ package for the 118th Congress. It includes a number of bipartisan and bicameral proposals to reform and improve the delivery of healthcare, benefits, and services at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans, their families, and their survivors.
- The VET-TEC Authorization Act of 2023 (H.R. 1669) which extends a popular program that covers costs for veterans seeking job training in high-tech industries.
- The Prioritizing Veterans’ Survivors Act (H.R. 7100) to move the Office of Survivors Assistance (OSA) back within the Office of the VA Secretary. This move ensures that OSA has direct access to the Secretary to fix policy and program-wide problems.
In the 119th Congress, I have introduced the following veterans-focused legislation:
- The Coordinating Care for Senior Veterans and Wounded Warriors Act (H.R. 668) would improve healthcare coordination and the delivery of benefits for senior and disabled veterans enrolled in both VA and Medicare by assigning a case manager to develop individualized healthcare plans that best suit the needs of our veterans.
My work for our veterans does not stop at legislation. My team is dedicated to helping veterans navigate federal agencies to ensure they receive the benefits and support their service earned. I am so proud to say that, through casework, my team has returned over $2.35 million to veterans in our district. If you, or anyone you know, is having issues with the VA or any other federal agency, please call my Tucson office at 520-881-3588 or my Sierra Vista office at 520-459-3115 or submit casework here.
For more information concerning work and views related to Veterans' issues, please contact our office.
More on Veterans
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani reintroduced a bipartisan effort that would ensure that veterans living in rural communities have permanent, cross-state access to certified healthcare providers for their required disability claim exams.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani reintroduced a bipartisan bill to increase housing stipends for student veterans attending classes online.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani introduced a new, bipartisan effort to increase oversight and improve of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani, who represents nearly 80,000 veterans in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District, questioned Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Doug Collins during an oversight hearing about the VA’s preliminary requested budget.
TUCSON, AZ - U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani and Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins reiterated their shared commitment to care for the men and women who’ve served our country in uniform.
TUCSON, AZ - U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani on Thursday hosted the second annual Veteran Servant Leader Award Ceremony, honoring 31 local veterans who served in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Juan Ciscomani is leading a bipartisan effort to get the U.S. Army to review regulations that prevent eligible veterans and service members from receiving one of our nation’s most distinguished military honors, the Purple Heart.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S Representative Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06) wants to make it easier for members of our military to get the benefits they deserve after leaving the armed forces. The Arizona lawmaker and Rep.