Senator honored Arizona veterans, toured Phoenix VA improvements, and thanked veteran supportive organizations for their contributions to Arizona’s veteran community
PHOENIX – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema visited the Phoenix Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Center with Director Bryan Matthews and Deputy Director Michael Welsh ahead of Veterans Day to honor and thank Arizona veterans and veteran supportive organizations. During her visit, Sinema also toured Phoenix VA’s construction projects that will improve Arizona veterans’ access to care, and reaffirm her commitment to veterans, servicemembers, and their families.
“Coming from a military family, I’ve seen firsthand the sacrifices servicemembers and their families make to keep our nation safe and secure – and I am forever grateful for their service. I’ve also seen how difficult it can be for veterans to access the benefits they’ve earned – which is why my team and I work day in and day out to solve problems, ensure support, and deliver real results for our veteran community,” said Sinema, a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
Sinema visited the Phoenix VA with members of her Veterans Advisory Council and multiple veterans supportive organizations. The Senator honored the veteran supportive organizations in attendance – including Veterans First, Soldier’s Best Friend, Smiles for Veterans, and others – for going above and beyond to provide critical care and support for Arizona’s veteran community.
The Phoenix VA is currently undergoing several construction projects to better meet the medical needs of the veteran community. During her visit, Sinema toured the Sapphire Clinic, Emergency Department, and Radiology Department to see the construction improvements firsthand and learn how the VA’s expansion will result in better, more timely care for veterans.
Building on her successful work delivering lasting solutions for Arizona’s veteran community, Sinema recently introduced two bipartisan bills that would provide commonsense, long-overdue solutions to challenges veterans face. Sinema’s bipartisan VA Home Loan Awareness Act makes it easier and more affordable for veterans to access home loans, and Sinema’s VA Emergency Transportation Access Act protects access to emergency medical transportation for Arizona veterans in rural areas.
Sinema’s Veterans Advisory Council was formed to seek feedback from Arizona veterans and strengthen relationships between servicemembers, veterans, their families, and the communities that support them. The Senator’s advisory council includes members with backgrounds in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines.