Page 11 - Amarillo Senior Link Magazine Fall 2021 - Online Magazine

Navy
Iraq

He was ready to take on the challenge of serving his adopted unanimously. “Biden has been coordinating
country in a new way and launched a campaign for with Taliban terrorists already, and I'm not going to
the U.S. Congress. In November of 2020, Jackson was sit around to see how bad it'll get,” Jackson said.
elected by the people of Texas’ 13th Congressional
District, which includes the Panhandle and North Jackson is clearly passionate about defense issues,
Texas. He was sworn in on January 3, 2021. Jackson and he also says that veterans’ issues are among his
serves on the House Armed Services and Foreign chief priorities. He has pledged to use his voice in
Affairs Committees. He is also Co-Chair of the Texas Congress to demand nothing but the best for those
Agriculture Task Force and a member of Republican who live in our area, especially for the American
Whip Steve Scalise’s Whip Team. heroes who have served our country in the United
States military. Since taking office in January,
Most recently, through his work on the House Armed Jackson has made it his mission to ensure that the
Services Committee, Jackson led and advocated promises made to our heroes are promises kept. “I
for major legislative victories for our district in the understand the commitment and sacrifices made by
annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) our servicemen and women to protect our country,”
markup. Notably, his amendment to support the Jackson said. “I believe it is our duty in Congress
workforce at Pantex in Amarillo passed which will to provide them with the highest level of care, and
ensure Amarillo remains a critical part of the U.S. anything less is a dishonor to their sacrifice.” It has
nuclear security enterprise for generations to come, not taken Jackson long to execute this mission.
according to Jackson. Overall, Jackson says this year’s
NDAA goes a long way to modernize the U.S. nuclear He understands that many veterans have trouble
triad, which is important considering every nuclear with the Department of Veterans Affairs due to
weapon in the arsenal is assembled at Pantex in unnecessary bureaucracy. On top of working on
Amarillo. legislation to address this in Washington, Jackson has
equipped his teams in Amarillo and Wichita Falls to
Jackson also succeeded in securing funds for other assist veterans with issues pertaining to the VA.
defense programs conducted in the Texas Panhandle.
“This funding will prevent layoffs and ensure more On February 24, 2021, he led five of his fellow Texas
projects in the short term so that our district is colleagues in sending a letter to the Archivist of
competitive for the United States demanding that he address the
DoD contracts in significant backlog of records requests for veterans.
the long term,” “Providing records in a timely manner is the least the
Jackson said. federal government can do for the men and women
who have selflessly served our country,” Jackson said.
In relation to “Records requests are so backlogged at this point
recent events that many veterans have been waiting for a year to
in Afghanistan, apply for VA benefits, and it is unacceptable to let
Jackson’s bureaucracy effectively block veterans from accessing
amendment to the benefits they sacrificed greatly for.”
prevent President
Biden from Additionally, on July 13, 2021, he introduced
transporting legislation to modernize VA infrastructure by
American money extending the federal CHIP IN (Communities
or any other Helping Invest through Property and Improvements
item of value to Needed for Veterans) pilot program. This extension
the Taliban was would allow the VA to accept donations from non-

Amarillo Senior Link 11