U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) honored the 96th observance of Veterans Day on Nov. 11 and saw three pieces of veterans' legislation he wrote advance from the Senate.
“Today we honor the service and sacrifice of the brave men and women who wore the uniform to defend our freedom and keep us safe," Kirk said. "Our heroes deserve better than to be treated as second-class citizens, which is why I’m leading the charge to investigate misconduct and intimidation at VA hospitals like Hines in Illinois. In order to care for our veterans, we also have to protect the men and women who care for them. After 23 years in the Navy Reserve, this is my way of giving back to my fellow veterans.”
One of Kirk's bills funds Veterans Affairs at record levels — $1.1 billion above the president's requested amount — and offers whistleblower protection to Veteran Affairs staff members who report abuses or misconduct. Kirk's other bills make inroads for Veteran Affairs to hire more combat medics straight from active duty so veterans can take care of each other and codifies a simultaneous 2-minute moment of silence across the country at 1:11 p.m. each Veterans Day.
Kirk was an intelligence officer in the Navy Reserves until he retired in 2013 as a commander.
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