My LTTE to Star-Telegram was published

Senator Granger fully supports a $400 billion expenditure for national defense. It's too bad that she values weapon systems more highly than the veterans who operate them.

Despite Senator Granger's unwavering support of the national defense, she has repeatedly voted against bills that would better fund the Veterans Administration Hospital and increase veterans benefits. In April, despite lobbying from veterans groups like Disabled American Veterans, Senator Granger voted against an increase in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs by $1.98 billion. Yet she voted to provide $3.2 billion to help U.S. airlines cover additional security costs.

The Senator finds it easy to speak out for defense contractors, but what about us veterans? Where's her impassioned pleas, her lengthy news articles supporting additional funding for those who have defended their country?

Neither the V-22, the F/A-22 nor the F-35 would have prevented the terrorist attacks of 9/11. Our ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq will not be shortened by the introduction of these weapon systems.

If Senator Granger spent as much time visiting Veteran's Hospitals as she did visiting defense contractors, perhaps she'd see who is really defending this country.