WASHINGTON – Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), a Marine combat veteran and member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, released the following statement on Veterans Day:
“Generations of Arizonans have stepped up to defend our democracy, our freedoms, and our way of life. Veterans Day is a chance to reflect on that service and honor our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and all those who have served, especially those who never made it home.
“As we remember their service, we must recommit ourselves to serving our veterans and servicemembers with the same respect and honor as they have served us. That means protecting the benefits and care our veterans have rightfully earned, ensuring access to high-quality health care, and strengthening the Department of Veterans Affairs, not cutting it.
“As a Marine and combat veteran, I had the honor of serving alongside some of the most dedicated men I’ve ever known. We owe it to them, and to everyone who has ever worn the uniform, to make sure no veteran ever falls through the cracks. I’ll never stop working to fulfill that promise to our veterans and their families.”
Senator Gallego has led several efforts during his first year in the Senate to fight for our nation’s veterans:
Protecting the VA and veterans’ health care
Senator Gallego ledthefightagainst the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE) drastic cuts at the VA, including by placing a blanket hold on all nominees to the department. After intense pushback from Senator Gallego, the VA announced that it would significantly scale back its planned cuts in July.
Gallego backed the Veteran Families Health Services Act to expand the fertility treatments and family-building services that are covered under servicemembers’ and veterans’ health care.
In the FY26 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon-VA) Appropriations bill, Senator Gallego pushed to expand access to health care and suicide prevention resources, invest in mental health and addiction treatment, protect survivor benefits, support veteran housing, and support Arizona military construction projects.
Expanding veterans’ economic and housing opportunities
Gallego introduced the Veteran Fraud Reimbursement Actto make it easier for veterans with disabilities to be made financially whole in the event they are defrauded of their benefits.
The Senator demanded answers from Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) about its overdraft fee practices after the CFPB cancelled its order requiring the credit union to pay over $95 million in restitution. Navy Federal serves more than 14 million servicemembers, veterans, and their families—including thousands of Arizona families.
Gallego backed the bipartisan Military Spouse Hiring Act to create incentives for businesses to hire military spouses.
Several of Senator Gallego’s bills to promote housing opportunities for veterans were included in the Senate’s historic ROAD to Housing bill, including the:
VA Home Loan Awareness Act to add a disclosure to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s uniform residential loan application form and help ensure veterans are made aware of their home loan benefits, which may provide a more affordable lending option;
Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Actpermanently excludes veterans’ disability compensation from annual income calculations under the HUD-VASH program to help more homeless veterans access VA housing; and
HUD-USDA-VA Interagency Coordination Act to direct HUD, USDA, and the VA to identify areas for collaboration to streamline and improve housing program implementation.
