Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords collects endorsements from veterans groups

October 6, 2008
For Immediate Release  
Contact: Eric Swedlund
Communications Director
Giffords for Congress
520-512-0012 

CONGRESSWOMAN GABRIELLE GIFFORDS COLLECTS ENDORSEMENTS FROM VETERANS GROUPS 

VFW-PAC, Veterans and Military Families for Progress cite Giffords’ strong support for veterans, military issues and national defense  

TUCSON—Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ strong support for America’s veterans has earned her the endorsement of  two respected veterans groups.   

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Political Action Committee, which represents the 2.2 million members of America’s oldest and largest major veterans group, its auxiliaries and their families, endorses “only those candidates for federal office who support our nation’s veterans and stand in support of a strong national defense.”   

“In addition to comments received from VFW leaders in your state, this endorsement is based on your strong support for veterans, national security/defense, and military personnel issues,” said Larry W. Rivers, director of VFW-PAC, in a letter to Giffords.   

Veterans and Military Families for Progress has joined the VFW-PAC in endorsing Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords’ re-election campaign.   

Giffords’ record of support for veterans drew the enthusiastic endorsement of the group, which was founded in 2005 to ensure the rights and needs of veterans, active-duty service members and their families are understood and supported by the American people and their elected officials.   

Veterans and Military Families for Progress endorses veterans, military family members and veteran advocates. This year, the group has made endorsements in just 27 House races and eight Senate races.  

“Giffords’ service to our country cannot be questioned,” said VMFP President Matt Cary. “Giffords’ strong commitment to the issues that are critical to veterans, those serving now and their families is unsurpassed.”   

A respected member of the House Armed Services Committee and the only member of Congress married to a member of America’s active-duty military, Giffords represents 94,000 veterans in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, which has more retired veterans than other district in the state. The district also contains two key military installations, Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista and Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson.  

The VFW-PAC and VMFP endorsements follow the endorsement of WesPAC-Securing America’s Future, a group created by General Wesley Clark, the former NATO Supreme Allied Commander.   

The congresswoman also has the support of Veterans For Giffords, a group chaired by retired Four Star General John A. Wickham, President Ronald Reagan’s Army Chief of Staff, and Bill Valenzuela, a long-time Tucson businessman and former Marine who served during the Korean conflict.   

Giffords’ strong record on military and veterans issues includes:

 

• Successful efforts to modernize the GI Bill to expand educational benefits to our veterans.
• Voting for the largest funding increase in VA history, including $600 million in additional funds for mental health programs.
• Authoring the 2008 law that allows members of the military who serve in combat zones to qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit.
• Intervening to save 200 National Guard Fighter Wing maintenance jobs in Tucson that were threatened by Air Force budget cuts. 

With roots back to the Spanish American War in 1898, the VFW is a congressionally chartered organization that has been instrumental in advancing veterans’ interests, including the establishment of the Veterans Administration, the creation of the GI Bill and the development of the national cemetery system. VFW-PAC was incorporated in 1979 and is the nation’s only major Veterans Service Organization PAC.     

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