Close to a year ago, REP Van Orden rolled up his sleeves and went to work to serve us on the Agriculture, Veteran Affairs, and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees.

As a retired Army veteran, I have seen Derrick in action at listening sessions firsthand as he reaches out to veterans throughout the 3rd Congressional District. Our congressman is a Veteran, and retired Navy Seal, who has five combat deployments. He knows what combat can do to a soldier's psyche. His empathy for what a veteran might be going through gives him a unique perspective and makes him eminently qualified to fix the Veterans Affairs bureaucracy.

Veterans are more likely to develop PTSD than civilians. Research indicates that 14–16% of US service members deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq have been affected by PTSD or depression. Nearly, 17 veterans take their lives each day. We must take care of those who defend our freedoms.

Derrick is a man of action and has introduced seven bills aimed at improving the quality of life for veterans and their families. He has also cosponsored numerous bills that address the top issues and concerns facing our veterans. A great example is the Protecting Veteran Community Care Act which provides better access to quality mental health care in their local communities.

I am proud to salute Derrick Van Orden as a patriot, warrior, and caring public servant. Thank you for taking care of us veterans.