Rep. McBride Honors Veterans, Condemns Budget Attacks on VA Services Ahead of Memorial Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congresswoman Sarah McBride (D-DE) delivered a floor speech ahead of Memorial Day, condemning ongoing Republican proposals to slash funding for veterans’ services and break America’s sacred promise to those who served. She warned that the Trump Administration’s mass layoffs and the House Republican budget would inflict real harm on veterans.

“You don’t support veterans by handing them a folded flag with one hand and cutting their lifelines with the other,” said Rep. McBride. “This isn’t just bad budgeting. It’s a betrayal.”

McBride recently joined veterans, families, and care providers in Delaware to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Wilmington VA Medical Center, which provided over 338,000 appointments last year alone. She praised the center’s record of care as a model of the promise the federal government must fulfill every day.

“Every single one of those visits is fulfilling a sacred promise that the government has made to show up for those who have sacrificed for all of us,” McBride said.

McBride cited new efforts by the Trump Administration to fire nearly 6,000 VA workers, with proposals under consideration to lay off up to 80,000 more employees—including the very staff who process veterans' benefits and deliver life-saving care.

She also highlighted that more than 1.6 million veterans rely on Medicaid, and that cuts to VA services, Medicaid, and SNAP would fall hardest on disabled, aging, and rural veterans.

“Veterans who fought for our country should not be forced to fight for the coverage and assistance they earned long ago,” said McBride. “Delaware’s veterans—and veterans across this country—don’t need slogans. They need support.”

McBride called on Congress to reject proposals that would undermine veterans’ care and dignity and urged her colleagues to heed President Lincoln’s charge: “Any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure.”

“I didn’t come to Congress to sanction cruelty,” McBride concluded. “I came to keep our word.”

Watch the full floor speech here. Read the full transcript below.

“Mr. Speaker, 

“Earlier this month, I joined veterans, families, and care providers to celebrate 75 years of service at the Wilmington VA Medical Center — a facility that provided three hundred thirty-eight thousand appointments last year alone.

“That’s visits to a primary care doctor, a dentist, drug and alcohol counseling. Every single one of those visits is fulfilling a sacred promise that the government has made to show up for those who have sacrificed for all of us. 

“As we head into Memorial Day Weekend, we must recognize the responsibility that we have, as elected officials — not just on Monday but every day of the year — to honor those who have given their last full measure of devotion by fulfilling our commitment to all who have served this country.

“Our country has long recognized the value of service by promising our veterans that, no matter who sits in the Oval Office or behind this dais, they will be cared for and protected.

“But today, that promise is in jeopardy.

“Nearly 6,000 veterans have already been summarily fired by the Trump administration. And now, they’re pushing a plan to lay off 80,000 of the very workers who process benefits and facilitate life-saving care through the VA. 

“And if that weren’t enough, as I speak, Congressional Republicans are continuing to advance a budget that would slash support for veterans even further — undermining health care, housing assistance, and food support. 

“Let me be clear: you don’t support veterans by handing them a folded flag with one hand and cutting their lifelines with the other.

“More than 1.6 million veterans rely on Medicaid for their health coverage. If House Republicans succeed in their slash and burn proposal it will mean real harm for veterans and their families.

“My constituents are warning me — and they’re right — that cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, and VA services will fall hardest on hurt disabled and aging veterans, especially in rural areas and communities of color.

“House Republicans have chosen to unilaterally pursue a budget that puts tax cuts for billionaires ahead of care for the people who wore the uniform. 

“This is not just bad budgeting. It’s a betrayal.

“Delaware’s veterans — and veterans across this country — don’t need slogans. They need support. They need stable housing. They need accessible health care. They need us to keep our promise to them.

“Veterans who fought for our country should not be forced to fight for the coverage and assistance they earned long ago. 

“I didn’t come to Congress to sanction cruelty. I came to keep our word. To ensure that the veterans I met at the Wilmington VA — and the tens of thousands more across our state — are treated not as political props but as patriots deserving dignity.

“This Memorial Day, I urge my colleagues to follow the famous charge of President Lincoln: “Any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure.” No mission is more important or righteous.

“Thank you. I yield back.”

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