[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 17038]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             VETERANS TOUR

  (Mrs. BUSTOS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mrs. BUSTOS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to talk about the recent 
veterans tour I conducted across my region of Illinois.
  Last week I traveled to all corners of my district to meet with local 
veterans and listen to their priorities and to their concerns. I held 
listening roundtables with veterans to talk about ways we can cut down 
on the shameful backlog of VA claims, to make sure that veterans have 
access to good-paying jobs, to education, and to job training programs, 
and to put an end to veterans' homelessness.
  I also worked a shift at the Sterling, Illinois, VA Clinic, where I 
shadowed nurses and saw firsthand new technology that help veterans 
have access to treatment closer to home.
  And, finally, I interviewed Leland Chandler for the Library of 
Congress Veterans History Project. Mr. Chandler is a World War II 
veteran from Galesburg, Illinois, who was a prisoner of war in the 
Pacific Theater. He received many awards and decorations for his brave 
service to our Nation. He is a true American hero, and I am honored to 
share his story with the public.
  During my time in Congress, I have made veterans my top priority, and 
I will continue to fight to protect the benefits that they have worked 
so hard to achieve.

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