U.S. Congressman Ruben Gallego, Marine Veteran, joins discussion on supporting service men and women

 NORTHBROOK, IL— Democrat Brad Schneider (IL-10) hosted a community roundtable discussion in Grayslake yesterday with local veterans and veteran groups on ways to support returning and former service members.

Brad was joined by Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-7) who is a veteran of the US Marine Corps in Iraq and is a leader on veteran issues in Congress, where he sits on the House Armed Services Committee.

 

 Photo: Brad Schneider holds community roundtable on Veteran issues with Congressman Ruben Gallego 

 “Brad Schneider understands that veterans deserve our full support in recognition of the sacrifices they and their families have made for our country,” said Rep. Gallego. “I support Brad’s campaign because he will be an advocate for veterans in Congress, working to provide world class healthcare, opportunities for higher education and avenues for employment to ease the transition to civilian life for returning service men and women.” 

Participants discussed creating opportunities for entrepreneurship and employment for veterans, the importance of higher education, and the need to ensure veteran access to quality healthcare services for both physical and mental wounds.

 “We owe the many men and women who serve our country a huge debt of gratitude and our responsibility does not end when they return home and put the uniform away,” said Schneider. “In Congress, I was proud to support initiatives that assist veterans in finding civilian employment and was honored to help organizations like the Veteran’s Closet in North Chicago and the Fuller Center’s Hero Project in Waukegan obtain the resources they needed to provide services to our veterans. With my son serving in the Navy, this is a personal issue for me, and I will never stop working to provide the healthcare, education and job training opportunities that our returning service men and women deserve.”

Schneider supports the Veterans Entrepreneur Act, the Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act, the 21st Century Health Care for Heroes Act, and believes we must maintain a 21st Century GI Bill to provide educational opportunities to a new generation of American heroes.

The roundtable was held at Dryhootch, a 501c3 non-profit retail coffee shop run by and for veterans, which also supports an extended network of veteran families and encourages veteran interaction with the community as a whole.

Participants at the roundtable included:

• Ald. Bob Runnels (North Chicago), veteran

• Brendan Remezas, Transportation Workers Union, Veterans Services

• Charles Schletz, Lake County Veterans and Family Services Foundation

• Dave McArtin, veteran

• David Lash, Lieutenant Cmdr, USN, Ret., Prog Manager VA Grow Our Own Program 

• Joseph Trimble, VFW Post 7191

• Kenneth Barber, Executive Director of Illinois Joining Forces

• Mary Robeson, Coalition to Reduce Recidivism and veteran

• Mitch Siegel, Job Developer Veterans Employment Catholic Charities

• Morton Wax, veteran

• Steve Ruohomaki, LCSW and veteran

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