BEND, OR -- Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer (OR-R) held a Veterans Policy Panel in Bend Tuesday. She invited local vets to talk about their experience, both positive and negative, with receiving healthcare through the Veterans Affairs department. "What is your everyday life like as a veteran? And how are the veterans being served in this country through Congress? Are you getting the benefits that you deserve or is your family getting the benefits that they deserve?” Chavez-Deremer told the group she’s focused on increasing VA funding and assisting homeless veterans. She says Congress needs to do more to address staffing levels, and streamline medical visits and billing.

She tells KBND News it’s important to get a firsthand account of the problems accessing benefits, "They'll spend their time and go to Washington to see me in my office and say, 'Congresswoman, here's what I care about.’ They're advocating for other veterans; that tells me they're passionate.”

The comments were emotionally-charged at times, “How did we hear that emotion? We heard it because their voices raise, they feel anxious. They want to get up and tell me their story. They showed up here and they sat for two hours,” the Republican said.

Chavez-Deremer joined members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee on a tour of the Portland VA hospital Monday.