By K.D. Norris
Michigan U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, in Kentwood at a Disabled American Veterans post and surrounded by veteran services leaders and advocates, today detailed her past, present and planned future legislative efforts in support of veterans.
Speaking at the DAV William A. Smith Jr. Chapter #2 building on Eastern Avenue, appropriately just a couple blocks from the City of Kentwood’s Veterans Memorial Park on 48th Street SE, she declined to specially name her Republican challenger in the fall, John James — also a veteran — but made clear why she feels she is a better choice for veterans and military members at the polls Nov. 6.
“First of all, I have lived in Michigan my whole life and my record speaks for itself, particularly related to veterans,” Sen. Stabenow said to WKTV. “Coming in (to the senate) in 2001, I made setting up out-patient healthcare clinics throughout the state a top priority. We did not have them in many places, in northern, western Michigan, so on. We now have 10 additional healthcare clinics as a result of that effort.
“I’ve gone on to develop a whole new area of support for our veterans coming home that want to go into farming or go back into farming. We now have a whole movement of farmer veterans in Michigan, the largest chapter in the country, where we are supporting those who want to go into, back into farming, with reduced crop insurance, reduced loans, and other support.”
One of the four persons speaking with Sen. Stabenow at the event was, in fact, Frank Corrado, a blueberry farmer from Bangor and U.S. Army veteran, who echoed the support Michigan’s veteran farmers have received from the senator.
“I have (also) been very involved with the G.I. Bill,” Sen. Stabenow continued. “And changing that to now include not only active duty (personal) but our (National) Guard and reserves. And to strengthen that. And now, with my legislation (in work), going forward even farther.”
Sen. Stabenow has recently co-introduced legislation to reform the veterans Transition Assistance Program.
Two of the other speakers at the event also voiced support of her work: Mike Hyacinthe, a U.S. Navy veteran, and Tim Marroquin, the director of the Veterans Upward Bound program at Grand Valley State University.
“This is a life-long mission for me,” Sen. Stabenow concluded. “It actually started when I was in the (Michigan) State House (of Representatives), when I took on the fight to get Agent Orange recognized, on behalf of Vietnam War veterans. At the time, that was not recognized as an outcome of the war and the healthcare services were not available.”
When pressed about her Republican opponent, James, boasting that his is both a veteran and a political outsider in contrast to Sen. Stabenow, the senator again declined any direct comparison — sort of.
“First of all, we need people who know how to get things done, and that is the bottom line,” she said. “It is not about talk. It is about getting things done, and I’ve gotten things done, and I am going to continue to stay focused on getting things done for the people of Michigan and certainly veterans are at the top of the list.”
