MANHATTAN, KS – Congressman Tim Huelskamp (KS-01) completed visits to several Military and Veteran facilities on Thursday — including a visit to Fort Riley, where he met with the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade. Items discussed included the Army’s Supplemental Programmatic Environmental Assessment (SPEA). Following his Fort Riley visit, Congressman Huelskamp visited the Junction City Community Based Outreach Clinic (CBOC) to discuss day-to-day operations and the recently enacted Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014. Later in the day he paid a visit to the Manhattan Vet Center to discuss on-going health care issues. He finished his visits by giving the keynote address to the Flint Hills Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America.
Representative Huelskamp issued the following statement:
“It was a privilege to visit with Brigadier General Christopher Ghika, supporting staff, and soldiers of the 1st Combat Aviation Brigade and to hear their stories of service in Afghanistan. Our country owes them a debt of gratitude for the sacrifices they and their families make. The impact of Fort Riley in our Military’s storied history cannot be overstated. It is their brave service that is the pride of the Big First and Kansas.”
“It is essential that Washington recognizes that Fort Riley is at the forefront of security, simulation, and training capabilities. In light of the Army’s review of our nation’s armed forces, I am working with Fort Riley, community leaders, state government, and my fellow congressional colleagues to demonstrate why Fort Riley is critical to our military efforts in the 21st century.”
“While Congress took an important first step to address the serious issues surrounding VA care, I stopped by our Junction City CBOC to see firsthand what the ongoing needs will be in light of the VA Reform Act that I championed. Our Kansas Veterans deserve the highest quality of care, and my visit there confirms that we are headed on the right track.
“The VA Reform Act is providing a new path forward for both the VA and our Veterans: by increasing care, creating a culture of accountability that focuses on Veteran needs instead of bureaucratic goals, and providing much needed choice for our Veterans, VA Reform is a big step in the right direction.”
“I am proud of the efforts we have made to protect our Veterans and will continue to fight for them and for our brave soldiers at Fort Riley. It is what is right for Kansas, what is right for the Big First, and what is right for America.”