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Each year on this day, Americans take a pause from school and the workplace to commemorate the service of our nation's veterans. With one of the largest populations of veterans and active-duty military service members, Virginia plays a vital role in our nation's defense.

As the son of an Air Force officer, the father of a Marine and a Marine combat veteran myself, I understand the value of having leaders in Congress who know firsthand what it's like to be deployed, to have close family members deployed and, ultimately, to join the ranks of my fellow veterans.

As a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs and as the new chairman of the Senate Committee on Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, I take very seriously my commitment to serving our nation's veterans and our active duty, National Guard, Reserve service members and their families. I believe that the extraordinary devotion to duty demonstrated by our military veterans in defending our nation's security must be matched by a corresponding commitment to their welfare by their elected representatives in Congress.

That's why I have spent a good deal of my life working at the federal level on issues that affect the well-being of veterans and their families. As we reflect today upon the sacrifices of those who have served our country honorably during times of peace and war, I wanted to highlight a number of successes we have achieved in Congress.

The Post-9/11 GI Bill

The passage of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which I drafted, introduced on my first day in office and championed in Congress with broad bipartisan support, is extremely important for the men and women who have volunteered to join the ranks of the military since 9/11. It gives our new "greatest generation" the same opportunity for a first-class future that our service members received after World War II. In doing so, just as with the original GI Bill, we are making a wise and deserved investment in our veterans that will pay off handsomely during the years ahead for our economy and our country as a whole.

Caring for our wounded warriors

The servicemen and women affected by traumatic brain injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder deserve the best possible care. The Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act provides for enhanced health care and a comprehensive plan on the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation and treatment of TBI and PTSD. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009 contains additional provisions to improve care for our wounded warriors, including the establishment of a Center of Excellence in the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment and rehabilitation of hearing loss and auditory system injuries. Additional provisions to ensure our wounded warriors receive the highest-quality treatment are contained in the fiscal year 2010 defense authorization bill.

Supporting TRICARE

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2010, enacted into law last month, bolsters the national TRICARE health care program for our veterans, by extending eligibility for TRICARE standard to so-called "gray-area" retirees and preventing increases in copayments for inpatient care at civilian hospitals under TRICARE Standard.

Stronger health care delivery

Just as our veterans are deserving of the best health care available, so too should they receive it on a prompt and seamless basis. At times in the past, however, when such appropriations have been delayed, veterans have experienced interruptions in health care service. No more. I supported the successful enactment this year of the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009, which gives the state a new two-fiscal-year budget for its health services. This will far better ensure the full and uninterrupted delivery of health care for our veterans.

Reducing the benefits backlog

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 increased the state's budget and focused added attention on the disgraceful claims backlog. One result was the hiring of nearly 4,200 new employees to take care of these claims by processing them more quickly and in greater number. The number of claims completed this fiscal year is 10 percent greater than for the same period in fiscal 2008. There is still room for improvement. As a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, I will continue to press for the swift completion of disability claims and the continued modernization of the state's processing system itself.

These important legislative accomplishments testify to the high priority this Congress has placed on our nation's veterans' welfare. As we honor those who have served in uniform this Veterans Day, we should remember that they have always done what the country asks of them in every war. When they take off their uniform to return to family and friends in civilian life, it is our responsibility to act as their stewards to demonstrate the value we place on their service to our nation.

Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.), former secretary of the Navy and assistant secretary of Defense, is a

combat veteran of the Vietnam War, and was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star Medal, two Bronze Star Medals, and two Purple Hearts. He serves on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee and chairs the personnel subcommittee of the

Senate Committee on Armed Services.