Tom Barrett
Representative for Michigan · Republican · United States
“The Sharri Briley & Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act will finally deliver the first notable increase in over 30 years to our most severely disabled veterans and our Gold Star families who have sacrificed so much.”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Take Care of America's Veterans Act. This package includes more than 60 bipartisan bills that modernize, enhance, and reform the delivery of healthcare and benefits for the entire veteran community.”
“And, finally, my Home Affordability for Guard and Reserve Act to empower more of our National Guard and reservists to take advantage of the VA Home Loan Program. Today, they would wait 6 years to qualify for the VA Home Loan Program.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 72 (Wednesday, April 30, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 72 (Wednesday, April 30, 2025)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E364] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING SHERI JONES ______ HON.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 72 (Wednesday, April 30, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 72 (Wednesday, April 30, 2025)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E364] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING SHERI JONES ______ HON.”
“She's been a tireless advocate on the frontlines of some of our most pressing issues--raising awareness about the opioid crisis, mental health, and human trafficking. Additionally. she has used her platform not just to inform, but to inspire change.”
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“And, finally, my Home Affordability for Guard and Reserve Act to empower more of our National Guard and reservists to take advantage of the VA Home Loan Program. Today, they would wait 6 years to qualify for the VA Home Loan Program. Under this bill, they will qualify once they return home from their training and are in good standing with their unit. Mr. Speaker, I worked hard on these bills for nearly 2 years, and they and more than 50 other bipartisan bills just like them are all major wins that will improve the lives of our Nation's heroes. I thank Chairman Bost for his work on this legislation, and I look forward to the passage of this bill. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''”
“The Sharri Briley & Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act will finally deliver the first notable increase in over 30 years to our most severely disabled veterans and our Gold Star families who have sacrificed so much. My Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act and my Delivering Digitally to Our Veterans Act, which will ensure that every veteran can understand the messages and communications they receive from the VA in a simplified manner and even opt in to get them electronically. My Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act, which will make it easier for veterans to schedule medical appointments closer to home and easier to access. The Acquisition Reform and Cost Assessment Act to strengthen oversight of VA acquisitions with the ginormous contracts that they often enter into.”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Take Care of America's Veterans Act. This package includes more than 60 bipartisan bills that modernize, enhance, and reform the delivery of healthcare and benefits for the entire veteran community. It also delivers numerous bills that veterans and VSOs across America have been vocal about, like the Major Richard Star Act, the Love Lives On Act, the ACCESS Act, the TAP Promotion and Expansion Act, and more. It also includes eight of my own specific bill priorities, including: The ASSIST Act and CRUISE Act, which will help disabled veterans and businesses make necessary and timely modifications to vehicles, ensuring that veterans have accessibility to move about.”
“She's been a tireless advocate on the frontlines of some of our most pressing issues--raising awareness about the opioid crisis, mental health, and human trafficking. Additionally. she has used her platform not just to inform, but to inspire change. Sheri Jones is more than a journalist--she is a storyteller, a mentor, a community champion, and a true public servant. Her retirement marks the end of an era for Michigan journalism, but her legacy will continue in the lives she's touched, the issues she's illuminated, and the community she's helped build. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me and a grateful mid- Michigan community in recognizing Sheri for her decades of service and wishing her all the best in this well-earned next chapter. ____________________”
“Whether reporting breaking news or moderating debates. Sheri brought clarity, dignity, and heart to every story she told. Her excellence has not gone unnoticed. Sheri is a proud inductee of both the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame and the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. She's received multiple Emmy nominations, accolades from the Associated Press, and recognition from the Michigan Association of Broadcasting. Sheri is also a proud member of the Silver Circle of the Michigan chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences--an honor reserved for those who have devoted a quarter-century or more to broadcast excellence. But Sheri's impact goes far beyond the newsroom.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 72 (Wednesday, April 30, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 72 (Wednesday, April 30, 2025)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E364] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING SHERI JONES ______ HON. TOM BARRETT of michigan in the house of representatives Wednesday, April 30, 2025 Mr. BARRETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true legend in Michigan broadcasting, Sheri Jones, who is retiring after nearly 37 years as a trusted voice and compassionate presence on WLNS-TV 6 in Lansing. Since 1987, Sheri has been more than a news anchor--she's been a steady, reassuring presence in our homes. Her warm demeanor and unwavering professionalism have made her a beloved figure across mid- Michigan.”
“She's been a tireless advocate on the frontlines of some of our most pressing issues--raising awareness about the opioid crisis, mental health, and human trafficking. Additionally. she has used her platform not just to inform, but to inspire change. Sheri Jones is more than a journalist--she is a storyteller, a mentor, a community champion, and a true public servant. Her retirement marks the end of an era for Michigan journalism, but her legacy will continue in the lives she's touched, the issues she's illuminated, and the community she's helped build. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me and a grateful mid- Michigan community in recognizing Sheri for her decades of service and wishing her all the best in this well-earned next chapter. ____________________”
“Whether reporting breaking news or moderating debates. Sheri brought clarity, dignity, and heart to every story she told. Her excellence has not gone unnoticed. Sheri is a proud inductee of both the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame and the Michigan Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame. She's received multiple Emmy nominations, accolades from the Associated Press, and recognition from the Michigan Association of Broadcasting. Sheri is also a proud member of the Silver Circle of the Michigan chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences--an honor reserved for those who have devoted a quarter-century or more to broadcast excellence. But Sheri's impact goes far beyond the newsroom.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 72 (Wednesday, April 30, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 72 (Wednesday, April 30, 2025)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E364] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING SHERI JONES ______ HON. TOM BARRETT of michigan in the house of representatives Wednesday, April 30, 2025 Mr. BARRETT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true legend in Michigan broadcasting, Sheri Jones, who is retiring after nearly 37 years as a trusted voice and compassionate presence on WLNS-TV 6 in Lansing. Since 1987, Sheri has been more than a news anchor--she's been a steady, reassuring presence in our homes. Her warm demeanor and unwavering professionalism have made her a beloved figure across mid- Michigan.”
“When I was elected to the State legislature in Michigan 10 years ago, I became the only Iraq war veteran in the entire Michigan House of Representatives. I worked closely with my Federal Members of Congress to help veterans obtain their benefits. I maintained then that if I were ever in a position to make the process more streamlined and easier to understand, I would commit to doing that. This very first bill in Congress makes good on that commitment. I am proud to offer that today. Mr. Speaker, I thank you and the rest of the Chamber for taking up this bill for consideration. It is time to give America's heroes and their families a clear and efficient claims process that actually works for them. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this bill that would do just that.”
“Claims letters should be the catalyst to care and benefits and not the obstacle. That is where my bill comes in. H.R. 1039 requires the VA to make these notices clear, concise, and easy to understand while also streamlining the Department's overall communication with our veterans. As you heard already, it requires the VA to partner with an outside agency, not the bureaucrats within the VA, to make these communications easier and more streamlined for veterans to understand. Often, when you are working within the industry, it can be very difficult to put yourself in the position of those receiving these letters to understand what would be best absorbed by them. Our veterans serve the United States military with honor. They shouldn't need a lawyer or specially trained advocate to explain a claims letter to them.”
“I can tell you, I personally have seen this myself in applications and interfacing I have had with the VA and challenges you get when you receive things in the mail. It is hard to determine whether this is an update on the claim that I have filed, a resolution to that claim, or seeking more information, or is it simply a delay saying that they don't have a resolution to the claim yet? It can be very difficult to figure that out, especially if you have multiple claims within the same packet. When a veteran files a claim, it means they need help, yet too often they receive long, confusing letters full of legal jargon that leaves them with more questions than answers, ultimately leading them to call into a claims center or a helpline, which overburdens that and slows down the overall claims process. This is unacceptable.”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of my very first piece of legislation that I introduced as a Member of Congress, H.R. 1039, the Clear Communication for Veterans Claims Act. This bipartisan bill, which I am proud to lead with Chairman Bost and Representative Budzinski, the ranking member of the subcommittee that I lead on Chairman Bost's committee, will make it easier for veterans to access the care and benefits they have earned by making significant improvements to our overly complicated claims process. Mr. Speaker, you have already heard from other Members today about issues with veterans filing claims and running into problems with forms, legalese, bureaucratic speak, and things that are not easily understood.”