Thank you to Nevada veterans

Representing Nevada in Congress, I am reminded every day of the precious liberties we enjoy in our country because of selfless generations of patriots who have risked their lives to defend our great nation. On Veterans Day, we thank our veterans and troops who selflessly fought to preserve our way of life in America. It is only because of their devotion and sacrifice that we enjoy today's freedoms.

Nevada is home to 339,000 veterans, and I work every day to meet our nation's obligations to care for our veteran community. One of the most pressing matters for veterans and their families is the burden and cost of traveling to Veterans Affairs (VA) health facilities to receive critical health care.

Many veterans throughout Nevada are traveling more than an hour and over great distances in poor health in order to receive basic health care. Because I am exceedingly concerned about the cost when veterans must travel, I reintroduced my Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act. This legislation would allow a veteran who lives farther than 25 miles from the nearest VA Medical Center to receive up to $400 in tax deductions that will help compensate for travel expenses when receiving treatment for their service-connected disability.

I am pleased to say that to date more than 50 members of Congress, both Republicans and Democrats, have supported my initiative, and I will continue to work with my colleagues in a bipartisan manner to pass this important legislation.

I also want to offer my personal assistance to service members and veterans in need of help. I often help service members and veterans with compensation and pensions, survivor benefits claims, and medical treatment for veterans and their dependents. My office has helped Nevadans obtain lost military records, expedite disability claims, correct military records, and has obtained medals for individuals who had yet to receive them.

I invite Nevadans to contact me whenever they are in need of assistance. Please contact my Reno office at 775-686-5760, my Elko office at 775-777-7920, or

e-mail me through my Web site, heller.house.gov if I can be of

service.

On Veterans Day Americans honor our nation's heroes who defended liberty and gave their lives for freedom. I want to thank every veteran for their service to our country.

As we all know the people who make the greatest sacrifices for our country are the brave men and women of our armed forces. Generations of Nevadans will enjoy greater peace and security because of the tireless sacrifices of our service members.

• U.S. Rep. Dean Heller (R) represents Nevada's Second District.