Congressman Ronny Jackson speaks on veterans issues

United States congressman Ronny Jackson, who represents the Amarillo region and the 13th Congressional District, spoke to the Amarillo Globe-News on veterans' issues after a roundtable event he held last week.

Jackson attended and spoke at the Texas Panhandle War Memorial Veterans Day event in Amarillo to honor those who have served.

Jackson, a retired rear admiral who served in the Navy for 24 years, including 13 years in the White House Medical Unit, has served the region since he took office in January of the current year.

Before the Veterans Day Ceremony, Jackson held his second veteran’s roundtable event with local veterans within a week. The day prior, he had met with veterans in the Wichita Falls area.

During his roundtable discussion, Jackson spoke about veterans’ issues, predominantly health care and services that veterans receive.

Jackson gave some brief words before guest speaker Col. Ken Teel spoke at the Veterans’ Day Ceremony.

“The issues that come up with the veterans are unfortunately some of the same issues that are out there for decades now with the veterans, and it revolves around their access to benefits and their access to care. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is just a big bureaucracy. It’s cumbersome. It’s taken way too long to get the veterans the care that they need and the benefits that they’ve earned and that they deserve, and we’re just going to work every day to try and fix that.”

Following the ceremony, the Amarillo Globe-News was able to ask the congressman a few questions about Veterans Day and what he is trying to do for veterans.

When asked about what Veterans Day meant to him, Jackson replied that:

“Veterans Day is great. I view Veterans Day as more of a celebration of our veterans and a big thank you to our veterans. I am honored to be here anytime I come back to the district; if I get to spend it with the veterans, there is no better way to spend it. I am glad to be a veteran and be part of this community."

Jackson was then asked about his focus on what he was doing for veterans in congress and what he brought to the table as a veteran.

“I think the veterans have done a lot for our country; obviously, this would not be the free country we enjoy right now. The freedom and prosperity that we enjoy today would not be possible without our veterans. We owe them the benefits that we promised them. We owe them the medical care, the health care, that we promised them. They need someone that understands their sacrifice and someone from their community in congress fighting the fight for them.”

Jackson was then asked about what could be done to keep good health care providers servicing our veterans in the VA.

“There is a lot we need to do on that. We don’t have the right incentives in place to attract the best talent. Sometimes the doctors that work in the VA get frustrated, and they don't stay as long as they should. The VA is just a massive bureaucracy. The VA sometimes makes it difficult for the doctor to take care of the patient and puts a lot of hurdles between the doctor and the patient and their health care. Not only do the patients get frustrated with that, but the doctors, physicians, nurses, and health care providers get frustrated with that. We have to get rid of some of the middle bureaucracy in the VA, clean it up and not forget what the mission of the VA is. We need to do a much better job."

Speaking about the veteran’s roundtable that he held before the event, Jackson said:

“It’s important to sit down with veterans in small groups and talk to them about what their issues and problems are and to get their advice on how to fix things. The solutions are often right there in front of you if you listen to the people with the problems."

Regarding some vaccine hesitancy among veterans, of which many have health issues from their service time, Jackson supported choice for veterans. Still, he acknowledged that people with health issues should get vaccinated.

“I think especially for a lot of our older veterans. I am a big proponent of our vaccines being a personal choice. I do not think the government has the right to tell anyone to get the vaccine. That is a personal choice between you and your doctor. I will say that everything should be a risk-benefit based on your personal circumstances. Many of our older veterans are in a category where I would encourage them to get vaccinated since they are older and have other health issues, and if they do get the virus, that could be the difference between life and death."

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Congressman Ronny Jackson speaks on Veterans Day, veterans issues