Veterans: Frontline Concerns

The men and women of today's U.S. military are fighting battles and facing challenges long after they leave the battlefield and return home. We're learning more every day about the long-term health effects of exposure to toxins, including large open-air burn pits that were used for waste disposal on bases in Iraq and Afghanistan. We'll hear from Senate Veterans Affairs member Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). and Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.), who is also a medical doctor, on their legislative efforts to ensure veterans receive the highest quality of healthcare.

In a segment sponsored by Wounded Warrior Project, comedian and longtime veterans' advocate, Jon Stewart will discuss his latest efforts on behalf of veterans facing health consequences from exposure to burn pits.

Join Washington Post Live on Tuesday, June 16 at 12:00 p.m. ET, as Washington Post columnist David Ignatius puts a spotlight on the medical challenges facing those who wore their country's uniform with pride.

(R-N.C.)

Thom was born into a working-class family with his father and mother and five siblings. During his childhood, his family was frequently forced to relocate depending on where his parents could find work. After graduating from high school, Thom was unable to afford college, so he took a job as a warehouse records clerk earning minimum wage. He knows firsthand how difficult it is to raise a family while attending school at night, struggling to make ends meet. Fueled by a desire to make a difference in his local community, Thom's involvement in public service began by serving as the PTA president of his daughter's high school and as a member of the Town of Cornelius Board of Commissioners. In 2006, he was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives and was selected by his peers to serve as Speaker of the House from 2011 to 2014. As Speaker, Thom played an instrumental role in enacting job-creating policies and reforming North Carolina's tax and regulatory codes. Thom was elected as U.S. Senator in 2014 and he has focused on pragmatic solutions and delivering results for North Carolina.

Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-Calif.)

U.S. Representative Raul Ruiz, MD, grew up in the community of Coachella, California, where both of his parents were farmworkers. Dr. Ruiz achieved his lifelong dream of becoming a physician through public education. Dr. Ruiz returned home after completing his medical training and began working as an Emergency Room doctor at Eisenhower Medical Center. Recognizing the physician shortage crisis in the Coachella Valley, Dr. Ruiz started a pre-medical mentorship program for young aspiring doctors, which has grown to include over 100 local students. The program became part of the University of California, Riverside School of Medicine, where Dr. Ruiz served as a Senior Associate Dean. Through the group Volunteers in Medicine, he helped to open a free clinic to help underserved communities in the Coachella Valley. In 2010, Dr. Ruiz started the Coachella Valley Healthcare Initiative, which brought together stakeholders from across the region to address the local healthcare crisis. He has also worked internationally in the medical community. The U.S. Army's 82nd Airborne awarded him the Commanders Award for Public Service for his work. Dr. Ruiz continued his work as an Emergency Room Doctor until he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2012. He represents California's 36th District, which includes the entire Coachella Valley, as well as the cities of Banning, Beaumont, Blythe, Hemet and San Jacinto. He resides in Palm Desert, CA.