Sen. Sanders spoke Thursday about the nation's debt to its veterans at a Senate hearing on disability compensation for Vietnam veterans who served in-country. At the same Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing, VA Secretary Eric Shinseki defended presumptive disability awards to Vietnam veterans who develop Parkinson's disease, B-cell leukemia, or ischemic heart disease. He said studies reviewed by the agency showed a positive association between these diseases and the toxic defoliant Agent Orange. A 1991 law directs the agency to cover these presumptive diseases.

"Personally, I believe no veteran should ever, ever be denied timely access to the VA health care system, especially if they truly believe their medical condition was due to their service in the armed forces," Sen. Sanders said today. "How can we call these brave service members 'heroes' in one breath, then question their integrity and intensions when they come to the VA for assistance?" 

To watch Sanders at the hearing, click here.

To read the senator's prepared remarks, click here.