BUENA PARK, CA — Yesterday, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) joined U.S. Representatives Lou Correa (CA-46) and Derek Tran (CA-45), local elected officials, and community representatives from Veteran service organizations (VSOs) for a discussion about the Trump Administration’s broken promises to care for those who have served our country. The lawmakers heard the unique challenges facing Veterans and servicemembers, and highlighted their efforts to support troops in Orange County and across the country.
“Servicemembers, veterans, and their families have made major sacrifices for our country, and the federal government has an obligation to take care of them. Recent events—including ICE’s inhumane deportations and arrests of veterans and their families—have shown the federal government is not fulfilling that obligation, and we need to demand better,” said Rep. Lou Correa. “I am optimistic that Gypsum Canyon, Orange County’s first veterans cemetery, received bipartisan support in getting approval, and I appreciate Leader Jeffries’ supporting our Orange County veterans.”
The discussion focused on topics including:
- Efforts by Representative Correa, Representative Tran, and California State Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva (D-Fullerton) to advance construction of the Veteran Cemetery at Gypsum Canyon and the profound impact its completion would have on Orange County’s community of over 100,000 Veterans.
- The effects of funding cuts to critical Veteran benefits and services, from health care to academic, personal, and professional support for student Veterans at on-campus Veteran Resource Centers.
- Efforts to deliver justice for Veterans and their families who have been wrongfully targeted by ICE.
- President Trump’s war in Iran, without consultation from Congress, which has already resulted in the death of seven American service members and the injury of over 140 service members.
“The Trump administration chose right out of the gate to go after the VA, to fire thousands of veterans who were part of the federal workforce and to cut back services our veterans depend on to live their lives as civilians with the dignity and respect that they deserve. Shame on Donald Trump for engaging in that type of egregious behavior while pretending as though his administration is standing up to cherish our veterans,” said Leader Jeffries. “House Democrats know our most significant, sacred responsibility is to make sure that we are taking care of the veterans who have taken care of America. We will continue to fight hard to lower the high cost of living, fix our broken healthcare system and ensure that veterans are able to receive their hard-earned benefits.”
“This Administration is failing our Veterans. Thousands of Veteran federal employees have been wrongfully fired. Critical VA benefits and services have been gutted. And now President Trump is threatening another forever war in the Middle East,” said Rep. Tran in his remarks. “When our service members come home, they shouldn’t be facing long wait times, delayed benefits, and broken promises. Their families shouldn’t be left wondering if they’re going to have health insurance or a roof over their head. Our Veterans deserve more than our words of gratitude – they deserve action and support.”
Representative Correa has been a strong advocate for U.S. veterans in Orange County and across the country. This includes his work introducing measures to increase federally funded research on innovative therapies to treat Veterans, urging the creation of Orange County’s first veterans cemetery at Gypsum Canyon in Anaheim Hills, and being a leading co-sponsor on the Veteran Service Recognition Act that would allow noncitizen servicemembers to apply for naturalization during basic training.
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