Gluesenkamp Perez Discusses Veterans Transportation, Career and Technical Education Priorities in Pacific County

This week, Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-03) visited Pacific County to speak with veterans at Pacific Transit about transportation to medical appointments, as well as students and educators at Ilwaco High School about the need to support career and technical education (CTE) opportunities. 

On Wednesday, Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez joined Pacific Transit to learn about the Veterans Connect program, which provides no-cost transportation for Pacific County veterans to their medical and dialysis appointments. She spoke with local veterans about the importance of the program, as well as her ongoing efforts in Congress to bring home federal funding for veterans transportation to healthcare.

“I’m very grateful to the veterans who took time to share with me the importance of the Veterans Connect program in providing timely transportation to their medical appointments. As clinics close and we lose providers in rural communities, services like these are an incredibly important lifeline for our nation’s heroes. Many veterans already wait months for critically-needed medical appointments, yet care can be delayed even longer if they show up even a few minutes late due to a lack of reliable transportation,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. “I’m working on bipartisan legislation to expand rural transportation grant eligibility to every county across Southwest Washington – but we also can’t ignore the need to reopen the Lewis County VA clinic and ensure rural veterans have access to pharmacies and certified specialists.”

Earlier this year, Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez introduced the bipartisan Rural Veterans Transportation to Care Act to expand eligibility for rural veterans to get transportation to VA health facilities. The legislation would make Pacific County newly eligible for the VA’s Highly Rural Transportation Grant Program to support free transportation services. It would also help restore access to these critical grants in Skamania County, after losing eligibility last year.

Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez continues to fight to reopen a Lewis County VA clinic to reduce travel burdens for rural veterans who now can face up to a full day of travel for their medical appointments.

On Thursday, the Congresswoman toured Ilwaco High School, speaking with educators and students studying commercial design, construction tech, civics, and agriculture about what they’re learning and working on. Students asked questions about her work in Congress, support for CTE programs, and the need to ensure rural schools are well-supported.

“Every student deserves to work on something they’re good at and love during some part of their school day. It’s why we’ve not only got to protect trades classes in schools, but also invest in more of these opportunities for rural students,” said Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez. I enjoyed meeting with some incredibly bright students who are building skills in the trades, agriculture, and entrepreneurship, and I’ll keep working in Congress to expand pathways to these fulfilling careers.”

The Congresswoman introduced the bipartisan Student Debt Alternative and CTE Awareness Act to encourage more young people to pursue paths in the skilled trades and understand the financial obligations of a four-year degree. She also introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen forestry career training and help small businesses hire trade school grads and support them in starting their own businesses.

Rep. Gluesenkamp Perez has also supported full funding for Perkins grants that support state CTE programs.