On November 11, we honor the brave men and women who have worn the American flag on their arm. Behind every uniform is a story of incredible sacrifice and commitment to something greater than oneself. These stories include long deployments, military spouses caring for their families alone, and children growing up without the constant presence of a parent. Our service members defend the liberties we can take for granted each day, oftentimes in the most dangerous parts of the world.
Every one of our service members has had to miss holidays, birthdays, and major life milestones with their family. They do so to preserve our freedom to safely celebrate at home. And time in combat leaves real wounds: both visible and invisible. Our veterans have made profound personal and physical sacrifices on behalf of our nation.
And when a service member hangs up their uniform, we proudly welcome them home and thank them for defending those freedoms. Over 100,000 veterans call Nebraska home, and it is our responsibility to make sure they receive the benefits they have earned. We cannot simply say we stand by our veterans; we must take action to fulfill our promise.
As a U.S. senator, the least I can do to give back to our veterans is ensure they receive the benefits, care, and recognition they deserve. This includes conducting oversight of and securing funding for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The VA works to fulfill the promise President Lincoln made in 1865: to care for those who have served our nation, their families, caregivers, and survivors. This task is paramount, and I’m grateful for VA leaders in Nebraska and Washington who work together to make it a reality.
Recently, I was honored to welcome U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins to Omaha to show him how we support our veterans in Nebraska—and the work still to be done.
Leaders at the Omaha VA told us that hiring and retaining skilled physicians is a serious challenge. For high-demand specialties, pay at VA facilities tends to be much lower than private hospitals due to government salary caps. In 2024, Congress allowed the VA to exceed some of these caps—but this legislation will expire in 2028.
That is why I introduced my bipartisan VA Salary Cap Waiver Adjustment Act. This legislation would allow the VA to issue as many waivers as necessary—giving facilities the ability to compete with the private sector for the very best physicians. This is an important step in making sure veterans have access to high-quality, specialty healthcare providers for years to come.
In addition to legislation, it has been an honor to partner with our veterans’ groups to raise funds for the Grand Island Veterans Cemetery, to advocate for a new VA clinic in Sarpy County, secure funding for the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency based at Offutt Air Force Base, and other projects that support our veterans community.
Still, the most meaningful conversations I have are with veterans in hospital hallways, clinic waiting rooms, American Legion posts, and events across Nebraska. Their stories and service are a reminder of the responsibility we share to uphold President Lincoln’s lasting promise.
We owe our veterans a tremendous debt of gratitude. Our commitment to honoring them must be reflected in the quality of services and resources we provide them. This Veterans Day, please join me in thanking a veteran for their service to our country. Let us renew our commitment to those who have sacrificed so much and fought so hard for the freedoms we hold so dear.
Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.