SAN DIEGO, CA – Today, U.S. Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) and local veterans’ community leaders met with Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Robert McDonald during the Secretary’s visit to the San Diego VA Medical Center in La Jolla.

“San Diego is home to more than 200,000 veterans, which is why I am glad the Secretary came to hear from local veterans’ community leaders about the unique ways we are serving servicemembers, veterans, and their families in San Diego,” Rep. Peters said. “Keeping the promises made to our servicemembers and veterans must be a top priority for Congress, as it has been for me. As I’ve said before, the VA has serious work to do in reforming its broken systems and restoring trust with veterans nationwide.

“Here in San Diego we are already showing the power of community engagement with the ongoing Military Transition Support Project that will improve life for veterans at zero cost to the federal government or taxpayers. Unique, collaborative programs like that one will be central to serving our veterans as they return from Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Congressman Peters has been a steadfast advocate for veterans since coming to Congress last year. In addition to introducing legislation aimed at reducing the number of elderly homeless veterans and another to provide tax credits to business who hire veterans, Rep. Peters brought together San Diego veterans’ leaders, non-profits, and military commanders to start the Military Transition Support Project (MTSP) and recently hosted a briefing on MTSP for Members of Congress to help spread the word nationwide. MTSP will help ease the transition back to civilian life by providing a portal of information on benefits, employment, and housing. Earlier this summer, Congressman Peters helped pass legislation that will reform the VA and begin the process of ending the culture of complacency that has plagued the agency.