Veterans and their future will be among the topics U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson will cover during a visit to Coastal Georgia this week.
Isakson, R-Ga., has been on a statewide tour, meeting with communities to update them on the happenings in Washington and being updated by them on issues at home.
Isakson’s tour will make a stop in Brunswick Thursday, where he’ll host a town hall meeting with the public at 2:30 p.m. in the Thomas Auditorium of the Southeast Georgia Conference Center at the College of Coastal Georgia in Brunswick.
Amanda Maddox, a spokeswoman for the senator, said the Brunswick meeting is one of eight question-and-answer forums Isakson planned for Southeast Georgia.
“Sen. Isakson has been traveling the state during the month-long August recess in order to meet with various community groups and leaders, tour local businesses that impact Georgia’s economy, visit Georgia’s (Veterans Affairs) health care facilities, and hold town hall meetings to hear directly from his constituents about their concerns or comments on local, state and federal issues,” Maddox said.
While here, Isakson will attend the Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce meeting, tour the Brunswick port and meet with College of Coastal Georgia President Greg Aloia.
The senator’s next stop will be Friday in Hinesville, home to Fort Stewart and a large concentration of veterans.
Isakson will speak with constituents specifically about veterans’ issues.
A member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Isakson pushed for an overhaul of services provided by VA facilities in the country after the revelation that many VA officials were forging documents to cover up the long wait times experienced by veterans using VA clinics.
Isakson says he has taken a personal interest in repairing the VA system.
“With the sweeping reforms put in place by the Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014, I am committed to personally seeing to it that we have a better VA health system delivery for our veterans,” Isakson said. “There’s no greater calling for us in Congress or for the next secretary of the VA than to bring value back to the VA and our veterans. I have personally made it my mission to get to the bottom of the VA’s problems.
“I look forward to continuing to be a part of the effort to fix the VA’s problems and put into place reforms to instill a system of success and accountability for the future.”
The senator has also lauded the selection of Robert McDonald to serve as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs after former Secretary Eric Shinseki resigned amid the VA scandal.
In addition to the VA, Isakson will likely discuss what he calls two major threats facing the U.S. — terrorism and the national deficit.
The Brunswick News
KELLY QUIMBY