For so many of us, the conclusion of 2021 was bittersweet. It was a difficult year with numerous challenges, but we’ve made incredible strides on managing the COVID-19 pandemic, including rolling out miraculous vaccines to millions of Americans and preventing thousands of deaths in the process. In Congress, we’ve been able to accomplish a lot – including historic investments in infrastructure and American workers through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the American Rescue plan.
Despite last year’s difficulties, I am hopeful about the future, and what’s possible when we focus our energy and willpower on building a brighter future.
One notable accomplishment we made in 2021 is close to my heart – making strides in addressing the veteran homelessness crisis. The homeless veterans crisis is not only a national disgrace, it affects our country’s ability to field the best military in the world. We promise young men and women that if they join our all-volunteer military, our country will take care of them. We promise educational benefits, quality health care, and resources to help build a successful life after their service in uniform. We cannot reasonably say we’re upholding our end of the bargain when over 37,000 veterans across our country find themselves homeless on any given night in the United States.
We started 2021 with an unacceptable number of homeless veterans. With a new Administration in charge, we’ve seen leaders finally ready to meet this tough challenge head-on. In early October, we welcomed VA Secretary Denis McDonough to the West Los Angeles VA to discuss veteran homelessness and what the campus is and can be doing to help better support homeless veterans. A month later, all the veterans who were living in an encampment on a sidewalk outside of the campus are either staying at the West LA VA, in hotels, or have permanent housing.
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