{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://web.archive.org/web/20140223160716/http://messer.house.gov/media-center/editorials/land-of-the-free-home-of-the-brave", "Land of the Free, Home of the Brave", "2013-11-11", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "IN", "Luke Messer", "M001189", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "\"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.\" -Elmer Davis, Director of the United States Office of War Information during WWII\nThose words are just as true today as they were when first spoken decades ago. While much has changed since the 1940s, the bravery, skill and dedication of our veterans remain unwavering.\u00a0\nRight now, more than 22 million veterans live in the US. They have served around the world during times of peace and times of war. It is up to all of us to ensure that those who served this country so proudly know their sacrifice is appreciated.\u00a0 But saying \u201cthank you\u201d is just the beginning.\u00a0 It\u2019s imperative we welcome our veterans home with open arms, help them reintegrate into society, find meaningful employment and receive all the benefits they have earned for their service to this nation.\nI am proud that in Indiana we have taken a lead in providing veterans with in-state tuition for higher education regardless of where they live.\u00a0 That\u2019s why I cosponsored H.R. 357, the GI Bill Tuition Fairness Act, which would implement this worthwhile practice nationwide.\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019ve also worked to encourage Hoosier businesses to hire veterans by creating \u201cveterans only\u201d hours at our yearly job fairs in Muncie and Lawrenceburg.\nBut, more needs to be done and can be done. The Department of Veterans Affairs disability claims and appeals process is severely backlogged nationwide.\u00a0 In Indiana alone, claims take an average of more than a year to process. After dedicating their lives to protecting our freedoms, veterans should not have to spend years cutting through government red tape.\u00a0 H.R. 2189, which I voted for, and which passed the House with bi-partisan support, establishes a task force to evaluate the backlog of disability claims at the VA and find potential improvements to the claims process. It\u2019s a small step, but it\u2019s a start toward reform.\nMost of us have someone close to us who is either serving or has served in the U.S. military. They are our fathers, sons, mothers, daughters, teachers, neighbors and friends who have proudly worn the uniform.\u00a0 On Veterans Day, as we reflect on the blessing it is to live in the land of the free and the home of the brave, we have them to thank\u2014those who shaped our nation\u2019s history and made it the greatest country on earth to call home.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140223160716/http://messer.house.gov/media-center/editorials/land-of-the-free-home-of-the-brave"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.2847920879721642, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}