FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 16, 2008

VFW PAC Endorses Landrieu

Cites Sen. Landrieu's fights on behalf of veterans and military families.

NEW ORLEANS - Friends of Mary Landrieu today announced that U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, D-La., has received the endorsement of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Political Action Committee.

The VFW-PAC is the nation's only major Veterans Service Organization PAC. The organization provides 2.2 million members of the VFW, its auxiliaries and their families with an opportunity to collectively support candidates for federal office.

"In addition to comments received from VFW leaders in your state, this endorsement is based on your strong support for veterans, national security/defense, and military personnel issues," Larry Rivers, Director of VFW-PAC, wrote to Sen. Landrieu. "VFW-PAC endorses only those candidates for federal office who support our nations' veterans and stand in support of a strong national defense."

"Mary Landrieu has a strong voting record demonstrating her support for veterans' rights and strong national defense, which is why we endorsed her," past Louisiana Department Commander of the VFW Tom Kijak said today. "She is a strong advocate for veterans in the State of Louisiana."

"I am so proud to receive the endorsement of veterans who have served on the front lines to protect our freedom," Sen. Landrieu said. "Our military veterans provided us with most of the freedoms that Americans enjoy today, and as a U.S. Senator, I fight to provide them with the protection they need at war, and the care they need when they come home."

Sen. Landrieu led the fight in the Senate to give our troops on the front lines the protection then need to win the war. She secured funding for a facility in Slidell to produce armored security vehicles that are used in Iraq. The vehicles provide better safety than humvees and more maneuverability than other military vehicles.

As a member of the U.S. Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee, Sen. Landrieu has led the effort to provide or National Guardsmen and Reserves with the support they need while at war. She has fought every year to increase pay for Guard and Reserve troops and to provide America's businesses with tax credits so that they can continue to pay Guardsman and Reservists during their deployments.

Click here to read more about Sen. Landrieu's record fighting for veterans and military families.