Veterans Day is a time for our nation to pause and honor the men and women in uniform who have sacrificed so much for their families, neighbors, and country. Veterans Day holds special meaning for me. Throughout my three-decade career in health care, my work with veterans’ support groups in Upstate South Carolina, and my time on the campaign trail, I have had the honor of caring for and meeting countless veterans. Today, I am proud to represent so many of these heroes in Congress.
As a member of Congress and the Air Guard, I have had the honor of serving alongside incredible Americans who answered the call to duty. Beyond my military service, my career as a nurse practitioner has allowed me to care for veterans and see firsthand the sacrifices they and their families make.
Every servicemember has a story. Some served in combat, others during peacetime, and many spent years preparing to answer a call that thankfully never came. Regardless of where they served, every veteran made a commitment few Americans will ever be asked to make. They raised their right hand and swore to defend our Constitution and our nation, knowing that duty may mean making the ultimate sacrifice.
“As a member of Congress and the Air Guard, I have had the honor of serving alongside incredible Americans who answered the call to duty.”
That commitment does not end when the uniform comes off. Instead, it marks the beginning of a commitment from those of us at home, a responsibility to go above and beyond to serve those who served us. Whether through access to quality mental and physical care, professional development, or housing assistance, it is our responsibility to deliver exceptional support to them in return for their service.
as medical crew director for combat missions and combat
support missions while operating in hostile environments in
support of Operation FREEDOM’S SENTINEL. She is the
recipient of the Aerial Achievement Medal.
My personal and professional experiences have given me a unique perspective on this responsibility. Before coming to Congress, I dedicated much of my spare time to outstanding veterans’ support and service organizations in the Upstate, while much of my professional career was spent caring for our nation’s veterans through the health care system.
That commitment continues to be reflected in the legislation I have introduced during my first term in Congress. The first bill I led in Congress was the FIGHTER Act, which would exempt regular compensation for active-duty service members from federal income taxes, putting more money in the pockets of those who serve and their families. I also introduced the Veterans Life Insurance Integrity and Expansion Act, a bill to expand access to VA life insurance to veterans under the age of 81, regardless of whether they have a service-connected disability. No veteran should be denied the opportunity to protect their family simply because they did not sustain a service-connected injury.
As someone who holds a degree in Christian Ministries, it is my belief that healing comes not just from the physical and the mental, but also from the spiritual. We brought that focus to Washington by calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of War to implement digital faith-based tools and the modernization of the Department of War’s chaplaincy. These efforts seek to strengthen federal support for the mental and spiritual health of veterans and service members. Building on this work, I introduced an amendment to the House version of the FY2027 National Defense Authorization Act to pilot digital faith-based tools that would help servicemembers access spiritual care and support their overall well-being. Federal agencies must do better at coordinating their efforts and providing the tools people need. My first term in Congress is just the beginning, and I will continue to draw on my experience to help those in and out of uniform.
Each year, on Veterans Day, we pause and reflect on the sacrifices that our veteran servicemembers made on behalf of everyday Americans. Our veterans did not serve for just one day, and it is my hope that throughout the year, we thank veterans when we see them, listen to their stories, support veterans’ organizations, and find ways to serve them in our communities. Their service represents more than a job or a uniform; it reflects the American values that hold our nation together.
It is an honor to serve my country and represent the many veterans who have given so much to it. We can never fully repay our debt to those who served, but we can honor them by keeping our promises and ensuring every veteran knows their sacrifice mattered.
To those in South Carolina and across the nation who have served, thank you for your commitment. May God bless you, your families, and the United States of America.
Sheri Biggs represents the 3rd District of South Carolina in the U.S. House of Representatives. A Lieutenant Colonel in the Air National Guard, she served as medical crew director for combat missions and combat support missions while operating in hostile environments in support of Operation FREEDOM’S SENTINEL, and is the recipient of the Aerial Achievement Medal.