Congressman Nehls Announces Veterans' Affairs Committee Assignment

I recently announced that I was named to my second House committee, Veterans' Affairs.

The Veterans' Affairs Committee is a great opportunity for me to focus on something very near and dear to my heart, veteran's mental health. Our military veterans sacrifice life and limb in service to our country. They go overseas and fight the enemy and when they get home they're not getting the care they deserve. More than 20 veterans take their life everyday in this country and that has to stop. We're the greatest country in the world, and we can do better than that--we owe it to our veterans to do better than that.

The Veterans' Affairs Committee has jurisdiction over veterans’ measures generally, including veterans’ hospitals, medical care, treatment compensation, vocational rehabilitation, and education, as well as over pensions of all the wars of the United States (general and special), the readjustment of servicemembers to civil life, and servicemembers’ civil relief. To ensure veterans receive these crucial services and benefits, the Committee is committed to its oversight role of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, including the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), and the National Cemetery Administration (NCA). The Committee also oversees life insurance issued by the Government on account of service in the Armed Forces as well as the cemeteries of the United States in which veterans of any war or conflict are or may be buried. I was was one of eight new Republicans to join the Veterans' Affairs Committee. The other seven Republicans were Rep. Greg Murphy (NC-03), Rep. Tracey Mann (KS-01), Rep. Barry Moore (AL-02), Rep. Nancy Mace (SC-01), Rep. Madison Cawthorn (NC-11), Rep. Matt Rosendale (MT-At Large), and Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-02).

I'm excited about the future and what we can accomplish for our veterans. As a US Army Major (Ret.), I know firsthand their sacrifice. They deserve the absolute best care and attention. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure they receive that.

I served 21 years in the US Army Reserve, retiring in 2009 with the rank of Major. During my 21 years, I deployed to Bosnia, Iraq, and Afghanistan. I am the recipient of a Combat Infantry Badge and two Bronze Star Medals. My district is home to 33,883 veterans and Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base.