VoteVets PAC endorses Kilili

Sablan

VoteVets PAC, the largest progressive group of veterans in America, endorsed the re-election bid of Delegate Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan (Ind-MP) yesterday.

“Congressman Sablan is a true champion of veterans, and we’re proud to endorse him for reelection,” said Jon Soltz, Iraq war veteran, and chairman of VoteVets PAC. “It’s crucial right now that we have Congressman Sablan’s continued presence in Congress to combat the growing attempts to privatize veterans health care. He’s been a great representative for the Northern Marianas, and an excellent champion for us veterans.”

In a separate statement, Sablan thanked the 500,000 veterans, their families and friends represented by VoteVets for their endorsement.

“Supporting our veterans and the men and women actively serving in the military has been a focus of my fifth term in office, now that I am on the House Veterans Affairs Committee,” said Sablan. “I look forward to continue to serve those who serve our nation in every way I can in the years ahead.”

Sablan is seeking re-election in the November 2018 polls.

Among his goals are a Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outreach clinic with full-time staff to provide medical care in the Marianas, improved mental health services for veterans, and an increased VA presence to help Marianas veterans access all the benefits they have earned.

In the VoteVets PAC statement yesterday, it said that, according to his biography, Sablan gained citizenship with an Executive Order of President Ronald Reagan on Nov 4, 1986, “like so many others in the Northern Marianas.” Yet even before becoming a citizen, Sablan had enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserves. He completed basic and infantry training, 11B10, at Fort Benning, GA, on March 27, 1982, as an E-3 and was promoted to specialist on Sept. 18, 1982. 

Initially assigned to Charlie Company, 100th/442 Infantry, Sablan joined Echo Company, 100th/442nd Infantry, when that unit was established in the Northern Marianas. To maintain his Reserve status, he trained at Schofield (Oahu), Pohakalua (Hawaii), and Kahuku (Oahu) Training Ranges. Sablan received his honorable discharge from Army Reserves duty on Nov. 29, 1987.

In Congress, Sablan is a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. In 2017, he obtained a waiver from the usual two-committee rule to serve on Veterans Affairs in response to the need to improve services to veterans living in the Marianas.

Founded in 2006, the mission of VoteVets.org Political Action Committee is to elect veterans to public office, with a focus on Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and hold public officials accountable for their words and actions that impact America’s 21st century troops and veterans. Though VoteVets.org PAC is non-partisan, candidates it backs must support VoteVets.org’s core mission and beliefs. (Saipan Tribune)