Supporting Our Servicemembers, Military Families, and Veterans
The daughter of a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, in Congress Marilyn works hard on behalf of the tens of thousands of servicemembers, veterans, and military families who call the South Sound home.
She introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure low-income military families don’t face food insecurity. She also urged the Department of Veterans Affairs to address systemic issues in the veterans’ health care system and highlighted delays and communications issues facing veterans in the South Sound as part of their experience with the VHA’s Community Care program. Marilyn has urged President Biden to increase funding for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program, which would improve the quality of life for military families, including at Joint Base Lewis-McChord – one of the largest military bases in the world and the largest employer in the South Sound – and secured $75 million in funding for the program for 2022. She also introduced a package of bills to better support our servicemembers and their families as they move from Base to Base and have access to affordable housing.
Marilyn will also continue to support the transition to civilian life, and access to education and career readiness programs for our veterans. She supports increased funding for the Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Programs, and will work to protect and expand the G.I. Bill. With women being the fast-growing subpopulation among both servicemembers and veterans, Marilyn will continue to to support and honor the two million women who have served in the U.S. military and promote more equitable access to federal resources including comprehensive health care, affordable housing and job training.