KENTUCKY — U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, a Democrat who represents Louisville, is the newest member of the Kentucky delegation and its only Democrat. Even before being a candidate for Congress, he has been a strong advocate for veteran issues and causes.

After his election to serve in Washington, McGarvey quickly was appointed to serve on the Veterans Affairs Committee, representing Kentucky’s 3rd Congressional District, which includes Louisville and Jefferson County.

The House passed its first fiscal 2024 spending bill at the end of July, funding veterans’ benefits and military construction projects, by a razor-thin margin along party lines, but some are saying that this bill may have trouble ahead in the appropriations process. 

“If we can’t come together, and figure out how to take care of people who are willing to put on a uniform and sacrifice everything for us, then where are we going to find agreement? So from health care, making sure that veterans are getting the health care they need, particularly in Kentucky. We have veterans coming through right now from Vietnam through the present, has been exposed to a lot of toxic substances with the Pact Act that was passed last year, implementing that, making sure veterans are having access to health care they need is so important. Education benefits. I have filed a bill that’s made it through part of the committee process right now, which is to make sure our veterans are getting their education benefits from the GI Bill and everything from going to college and also getting the training they need. I’m working on my small business committee on veterans issues, to make sure that the veterans are trained so that we have that workforce development and in bringing veterans into business and entrepreneurship as well,” explained McGarvey.

Also during this In Focus Kentucky segment, McGarvey shares why he is leading a bipartisan push for a passport agency in Kentucky, along with Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Ky., of Bowling Green and Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., of northern Kentucky in the effort.

You can watch the full In Focus Kentucky segment in the player above.