Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick was born and raised in rural Arizona, moved to Tucson to attend the University of Arizona, and has performed a lifetime of service for Arizona families. She worked as a prosecutor, starting her career in the Pima County Attorney’s office, before going on to serve in Congress. She represents a diverse district that stretches from the suburbs of Tucson to the more rural border towns in Cochise County.
For years, I’ve kept on my desk a quote given to me by a veteran: “Because they have already paid the price, fight for veterans with all your might.” Our commitment to our veterans must always be fulfilled. These are Americans who risked their lives in service to our nation and they deserve nothing less than the care and benefits we promised them. Our district has one of the highest percentages of veterans nationwide, with 77,516 veterans — over 10% of our district’s population.
During my previous terms in Congress, I was a member of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and will I continue to dedicate my time and effort to helping veterans and their families. I have cosponsored several pieces of legislation intended to grant veterans more benefits and improved care, including H.R. 80, the Phoenix VA Congressional Oversight Act, H.R. 95, the Homeless Veteran Families Act, and H.R. 3356, the Expedited TSA Screening Safe Travel Act. I’ve also prioritized direct input from the veterans living in our district, by establishing an advisory council focused specifically on veterans’ issues. I value every one of the Council Members’ comments and suggestions and will continue to use their input to inform my work on behalf of veterans.