Lacey, WA – Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) welcomed House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) for a district tour focused on veterans’ health care, workforce issues, and servicemember transition.
The pair visited Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM), Madigan Army Medical Center, McChord Field Fire Station 105, America’s First Corps, the American Lake VA Medical Center, and met with local American Federation for Government Employees (AFGE) members. The visit highlighted the ongoing challenges and urgent needs facing servicemembers, veterans, and civil servants in the South Sound region.
“It is an honor to serve a district with such a strong military and veteran presence,” said Strickland. “We must do everything we can to support the people who are serving, and have served our country — and that means ensuring they have timely access to high quality health care, safe workplaces, and the benefits they have earned.”
“I was honored to visit Representative Strickland’s district and witness firsthand the vital work being done to support both active servicemembers and veterans in the community,” said Ranking Member Takano. “Every brave servicemember and veteran we met with will one day depend on VA for their earned benefits, and learning the unique challenges they face at Joint Base Lewis McChord will help inform our policy to make sure those benefits are there when they need them.”
Garrison Headquarters and JBLM
JBLM Lewis-McChord is the largest military installation on the West Coast. The base supports more than 40,000 service members, including active duty, National Guard, reserve members, and approximately 14,000 full-time civilian employees. JBLM is the home of I Corps, the 62nd Airlift Wing, and one of the largest economic drivers in the South Sound region.
Madigan Army Medical Center
Madigan serves more than 100,000 active-duty service members, retirees, and their families — making it the Army’s second-largest medical treatment facility. Strickland and Takano toured the facility and discussed staffing shortages, high patient volume, and the hospital’s critical role as one of only two Level II trauma centers in Army Medicine.
Fire Station 105
At JBLM, Strickland and Takano visited Fire Station 105 — a 70-year-old seismically unsound building in dire need of replacement. Designed for firefighting equipment of the 1950s, it no longer meets the demands of today’s emergency response needs. The station is currently operating at only 80% staffing and lacks a fire chief, which impacts safety and response times.
America’s First Corps
America’s First Corps is the Army’s operational headquarters for the Indo-Pacific, which is located at JBLM. The three-star headquarters manages the daily activities of of nearly 40,000 Soldiers across the Indo-Pacific, including personnel stationed in Washington, Hawaii, and Alaska.
American Lake VA Medical Center
Strickland and Takano discussed ongoing efforts to modernize the 100-year-old campus and address federal workforce challenges. The pair also saw how American Lake provides vision care and blind rehabilitation services and talked about expanded care options for women veterans.
Local Stop at Bair Bistro
The day’s visit included a stop for lunch at Bair Bistro in downtown Steilacoom, where Strickland and Takano took a moment to connect with local residents.
American Federation of Government Employees
Discussions with AFGE members who work at American Lake VA, JBLM, and Madigan focused on the adverse impacts of recent federal policies, including the Deferred Resignation Program, employee buyouts, unsafe working conditions, Return to Office and working in linen closet, and GOP-backed budget cuts affecting VA and DoD personnel.
Strickland and Takano are committed to amplifying the voices of civil servants and veterans in Congress, and oppose legislation that undermines retirement benefits or civil service protections.
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