A lifelong resident of Portland, Oregon, Congressman Earl Blumenauer is one of Oregon's innovative leaders. Raised in SE Portland, Earl attended Centennial High School. While still a college student at Lewis and Clark College, he led the campaign in Oregon to lower the voting age. He was a key player just two years later as one of the youngest legislators in Oregon's history in a landmark session for school funding, ethics reform and Oregon's groundbreaking land use laws.
As a Multnomah County Commissioner and member of the Portland City Council, Earl's innovative accomplishments in transportation with light rail, bicycles and the street car, planning and environmental programs and public participation helped Portland earn an international reputation as one of America's most livable cities.
To sacrifice one's wellbeing for our nation's freedoms through service in the armed forces is one of the most profound gifts an individual and his or her family can give to our nation.
In return, Earl is firmly committed to fulfilling America's promise to our troops. Whether you're a veteran, in the National Guard or Reserves or on active duty, Earl supports increasing benefits for health care, education and other services for military personnel.
Many service men and women encounter difficulties when they return home. Earl is a fierce advocate for properly funding the institutions they rely on like the Veterans Administration. Rather than privatize the VA, Earl has fought to increase support for improved outreach, increased mental health services and expanded access to health care services for veterans. Healthcare should not be a for-profit business, especially at the expense of our veterans.
Earl believes that Congress must do a better job in assisting to the reintegration of veterans into society. Veterans of all ages and backgrounds face similar hurdles – age bias, workplace discrimination, inadequate medical care and a lack of affordable housing.
Earl and his office work with veterans and military personnel to resolve issues with VA claims, the VA Medical Center, and military records and medals. Below are some commonly asked questions. If you have specific concerns, please contact Earl's office at 503.231.2300.
Yes. Congressman Blumenauer assists personnel currently in the armed forces with a range of concerns that they are experiencing. These can range from pay or leave difficulties to working with the private sector to inform creditors of the Soldier and Sailor Civil Relief Act when a constituent is having difficulty getting employers to comply. Congressman Blumenauer's office can also assist constituents in the military with a variety of other concerns including child custody and emergency family leave issues.
Yes. Congressman Blumenauer's staff works with the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, and is able to gain records more expediently than under normal circumstances. The Congressman is also able to help you receive medals that you have earned but never been awarded, or replacements for lost or stolen service medals.
As of August 1, 2009, the Post-9/11 GI Bill provides eligible individuals with the opportunity to receive graduate and undergraduate degrees, vocational/technical training, on the job training, tutorial assistance, and licensing and certification test reimbursement. The Department of Veterans Affairs maintains an up-to-date website dedicated to helping veterans access these benefits. Please visit this site to learn more and see if the program is right for you and also contact the Veterans' Services Coordinator at the institution you plan to attend for more specific information.
Yes. My staff works with the Department of Veterans Affairs on a daily basis. We are happy to assist you with claims you are pursuing, including matters as simple as receiving an update about your case. Our close working relationship with the VA allows us to have information added to your file quickly, and we usually receive information about the progress of your claim within hours of an inquiry. Additionally, if your case has been outstanding for a considerable amount of time, an inquiry from my office can sometimes speed the processing so that you get the answers you need.
Yes. My office maintains a working relationship with staff at the PVAMC and speaks to them on behalf of veterans on a regular basis. If there is an urgent situation, an inquiry from my staff can often reduce wait times for appointments or get you updates on your case. The staff at the VA Medical Center works very hard, but if you are not pleased with the care that you are receiving, my office can make inquiries with the PVAMC on your behalf.
The most direct way to contact a service member, in cases such as a family emergency, is to contact Red Cross Emergency Services 1- (877) 272-7337
Download Current VA Federal Benefits Guide for Veterans, Dependents, and Survivors
Download Current VA Federal Benefits Guide for Veterans, Dependents, and Survivors (en Espanol)
Lines for Life provides a Military Helpline for those struggling with depression or substance abuse: 1-888-457-4838
Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs
If you would like to contact the Portland VA Medical Center Patient Advocate's Office, please call 503-273-5380.
Coalition for Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans
Service Officer Locator National Service Officers
Service Officer Locator Oregon State Veteran Service Officers
Service Officer Locator Multnomah County Veteran Service Officers
Montgomery and Post-9/11 GI Bills
December 1, 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressional Cannabis Caucus Co-Chairs Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), David Joyce (R-OH), Barbara Lee (D-CA), and Don Young (R-AK) today urged the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to allow access to medical cannabis for VA patients as quickly as possible.
Issues: Cannabis Reform Veterans, National Guard and Reserves, Active Duty Military
Oregon Delegation Requests Answers on Reported Mistreatment of Oregon National Guard Servicemembers
October 13, 2021
WASHINGTON – U.S. Representative Peter DeFazio (OR-04), along with Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, and Representatives Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), and Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) today requested answers on alleged mistreatment of Oregon National Guard (ORNG) servicemembers deployed to assist with the state's COVID response.
Issues: Veterans, National Guard and Reserves, Active Duty Military
It's time we fulfill our duty to veterans
November 11, 2019
While you should always find time to thank a veteran for their service defending our country and upholding our nation's values, today is a day to reach further.
In Oregon, hundreds of thousands have answered the call to service. During times of peace and times of conflict, these courageous warriors made incredible sacrifice for the sake of our country.
Some of the most critical issues facing veterans today are issues we can make progress on.
Issues:Veterans, National Guard and Reserves, Active Duty Military
Blumenauer: GOP Leadership Turns Its Back on Our Veterans . . . Again
September 11, 2018
Washington, DC – Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), founder and co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, condemned Republican leadership in Congress for failing to include his Veterans Equal Access amendment in the final FY 2019 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations legislation released today. The House is expected to consider the bill this week. Blumenauer's bipartisan amendment would make it easier for qualified veterans to access state-legal medical marijuana.
Blumenauer released the following statement:
Issues: Cannabis Reform Veterans, National Guard and Reserves, Active Duty Military
House GOP Leadership Again Turns Its Back on Our Veterans
June 7, 2018
As our veterans return home with injuries that are both visible and unseen, we have a moral obligation to help them get the care they need.
Yet, House Republican leadership this week turned its back on our veterans AGAIN by blocking my efforts to make sure they have safe and equal access to medical marijuana. This hopelessly out of touch decision is outrageous and puts our veterans at risk.