Congress thanks service members on Veterans Day

{mosads}The Democratic senators of Rhode Island marched together in a parade, and Reps. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.), Scott Rigell (R-Va.), Jim Himes (D-Conn.) and Sen. Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and others also tweeted that they took to the streets on Sunday and Monday to celebrate the holiday in local parades. Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.) said he spent the weekend overseas with the New Mexico National Guard units stationed there. Many others tweeted appreciation and reminders to thank the veterans in their own communities.

President Obama, who paid tribute to the nation’s military veterans Sunday in a wreath ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, tweeted several times to mark the occasion. 

Today, President Obama “laid a wreath to remember every service member who has ever worn our nation’s uniform.” twitter.com/whitehouse/sta…

— The White House (@whitehouse) November 12, 2012

Although there is bipartisan agreement by members of Congress on supporting veterans, several lawmakers used the holiday to argue for solutions to various policy issues that plague the veteran community.

Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) focused on the issue of veterans healthcare. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) urged fellow lawmakers to move more swiftly in addressing the backlog of veteran disability claims.