Veterans
As a veteran myself, I recognize the sacrifices that our military men and women make every day, both during and after their service. I intend to honor them through my work, and fight for them every chance I get.
In the 115th Congress, I have cosponsored:
- The Gold Star Family Support Act, which will give Gold Star Families access to military installations’ services and benefits, regardless of remarriage. This bill passed the House.
- The Global War on Terrorism War Memorial Act, which will allow for construction of a memorial commemorating the Global War on Terror on our National Mall. This was signed into law.
- Ensuring Veteran Enterprise Participation in Strategic Sourcing Act, a bipartisan bill that directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to work with the General Services Administration (GSA) to increase the number of Service-Disabled Veteran and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses represented on GSA contracts.
- "Forever GI" bill, The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, a bipartisan bill that would close current gaps in the existing Post 9/11 GI Bill and guarantee that veterans have access to their hard-earned GI Bill benefits beyond the current 15-year time limit.
- The WINGMAN Act, a bipartisan bill aimed at helping veterans through the claims process with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
- The Reserve Component Benefits Parity Act, which addresses unequal compensation for reserve-component members who deploy.
- The VA Employee Fairness Act of 2017, to modify authorities relating to the collective bargaining of employees in the Veterans Health Administration.
For more information concerning work and views related to Veterans issues, please contact our office.
More on Veterans
WASHINGTON, DC – This week, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Congressman Don Bacon (R-NE) introduced the Veterans Resource Center Act. The legislation authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide federal grants to public universities to establish, maintain, and provide services at Veterans Resource Centers on campuses. Moreover, it incentivizes priority registration for veteran and military-connected students.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) joined Congressman Scott Taylor (R-VA) in introducing the GI Bill Transfer Extension Act, to increase flexibility for servicemembers seeking to transfer their GI Bill education benefits.
Monterey >> Tribute was paid to another American serviceman in Monterey when U.S. Army Technician Fifth Grade Corporal David Schultz was posthumously awarded 10 service medals on the steps of Monterey City Hall by Congressman Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, on Tuesday afternoon.
The fact the ceremony happened just days after the death of Sen. John McCain, another decorated veteran, was not lost on Panetta.
I will be holding town hall meetings this month in Salinas, Watsonville, and Monterey. These meetings will be opportunities for members of our community to share their ideas and concerns about issues affecting the central coast of California. Seating for all events is first come, first served. Town halls will also be live-streamed on my Facebook and YouTube pages.
For ADA or translation accommodations, or any other questions, please call (831) 424-2229.
Seaside >> Dennis Lewallen, a retired U.S. Army infantryman, was searching the internet from his Kansas home recently for information on a man he had served with who had been killed in Vietnam.
The name Laszlo Holovits pulled in a Monterey Herald story from 2015.
“I am trying to decide if there would be any benefit to Mrs. Holovits in contacting her,” he emailed the reporter.
Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) joined Central Coast veterans for a “Vet into Your Sanctuary” Cruise on board the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) research vessel Fulmar.
More than 80 Congressmen, in a letter to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, are voicing opposition to "unacceptable" changes to the transferability policy for the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill.
Read the letter here.
Monterey Bay >> Combining ocean stewardship with military veterans, Congressman Jimmy Panetta joined more than two dozen Central Coast veterans for a cruise in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary to celebrate “Vet Into Your Sanctuary.”
MONTEREY, CA – Congressman Jimmy Panetta (CA-20) joined Central Coast veterans for a “Vet into Your Sanctuary” Cruise on board the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) research vessel Fulmar.