Next Wednesday, Nov. 11, the United States marks the 56th Veterans Day observance. Across the nation, we will pay tribute to America’s 25 million living veterans and the more than one million who have given their lives in military service.

While Veterans Day is a time to recall the sacrifices of those who have protected our liberty and way of life, honoring America’s veterans must be an ongoing national priority that is reflected in a strong federal commitment to veterans’ needs.

One of my highest priorities in representing Southwest Virginia is ensuring the availability of high quality, easily accessible health care for our region’s veterans. To that end, I have worked successfully with the Department of Veterans Affairs in order to establish community-based outpatient clinics in communities throughout the Ninth District. In the past year, new veterans clinics have opened in Norton and Bristol, and I have recently announced that new veterans clinics will be located in Wytheville, Marion, Jonesville, and Vansant.

Additionally, I have made it my goal to build a veterans cemetery in Southwest Virginia in order to properly honor the Southwest Virginians who have served our nation in uniform. Our region does not currently have a veterans cemetery, but the need for one is great. A higher percentage of our population has served in the military than the national average; however, the nearest veterans cemetery to our region is in the Eastern part of Virginia.

In the Fall of 2006 we took the first step toward achieving that goal when, at my urging, the U. S. Congress passed legislation that the President signed directing the U. S. Army to convey 79.8 acres of land it owns near Dublin to the Commonwealth of Virginia for the purpose of establishing the region’s first veterans cemetery. This summer, the U.S. Department of Veterans affairs awarded a federal grant of $7,218,366 to the state to enable the construction of the first phase of the cemetery consisting of 24 acres, which is expected to meet the cemetery’s needs for 10 years.

I am pleased to report that in October construction began on the new veterans cemetery, and the construction is expected to be completed in late 2010. When completed, the cemetery will provide burial opportunities for 60,000 veterans from across the region.

Democrats in Congress have taken several steps in recent years to ensure that our obligations to the nation’s veterans are met and that veterans have better access to the services they rightfully deserve.

For example, in 2007 Congress approved the largest single increase in funding in the 77-year history of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  The $6.7 billion increase represented an unprecedented commitment to veterans’ care. In 2008, Congress built on that funding increase, and earlier this year, the House of Representatives approved legislation further increasing VA funding. The Senate is currently considering the measure, and I am urging my colleagues in that body to swiftly approve the legislation.

The increased funding will improve care for the more than 6.1 million patients that will receive care at VA facilities in 2010. Many veterans currently experience longer than acceptable wait times when having their disability claims processed. This funding will also enable the VA to hire 1,200 additional claims processors allowing the VA continue to work down the backlog of benefits claims and to reduce the time to process new claims.

More than 3.2 million enrolled veterans live in rural areas like Southwest Virginia, and these veterans face unique challenges. The legislation approved by the House will also provide new increases in funding for innovative practices to improve access to care for veterans in rural areas.

Additionally, earlier this year Congress approved legislation I coauthored to ensure that the VA receives funding in a timely manner. The Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act will ensure that veterans’ health services are continuously funded without interruption. This measure was recently signed into law by President Obama.

As our country honors military veterans on Nov. 11, I want to recognize and thank the men and women of Southwest Virginia who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. military. For America’s 25.9 million veterans, as well as for the 1.4 million men and women who serve in the active duty military and the 1.2 million who serve in the National Guard and Reserves, Veterans Day provides an opportunity to accept the thanks of their fellow citizens for their selfless contributions to our country.

I honor the sacrifices of our servicemen and women and pledge a continued commitment to reflect in federal legislation the nation’s appreciation for the sacrifices veterans have made.

Rick Boucher is Congressman for the 9th District of Virginia, which includes the New River Valley. You can catch his Capitol Commentary regularly at newrivervoice.com.