WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, received the 2018 Veterans’ Champion Award, the highest legislative honor from Disabled American Veterans. The group chose to honor Isakson for his commitment to veterans, including his work introducing and guiding critical veterans’ legislation through Congress.

“I’m so honored by this special recognition from the dedicated leaders at Disabled American Veterans,” said Isakson. “As chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I’m working every day to make sure that the care and support that our veterans have earned is available to them. I could not do my job without the help and support from the hardworking folks at Disabled American Veterans, and I thank you for what you do to help our committee and advocate on behalf of our nation’s disabled veterans.”

Disabled American Veterans is a national Veterans Service Organization with more than 1 million members and was chartered by Congress in 1932.

Isakson was selected as the 2018 recipient of the Veterans’ Champion Award by Disabled American Veterans for “his commitment to the men and women who served, to include introducing and guiding critical legislation for veterans through Congress, such as VA health care reform, mental health care access and appeals modernization.”

Isakson is only the third recipient of this top honor, and this year’s award also recognizes his lifelong dedication to service, including an enlistment in the Georgia Air National Guard, and holding elected office in Georgia’s House and Senate as well as in the U.S. House of Representatives and now the U.S. Senate.

Isakson is a veteran himself – having served in the Georgia Air National Guard from 1966-1972 – and has been a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs since he joined the Senate in 2005.

The Senate’s efforts for 2017-2018 include so far the passage of 11 major pieces of veterans legislation – all of which have been signed into law – that aim to strengthen veterans’ health care, benefits and support. In addition, the Senate has unanimously confirmed 11 of President Trump’s nominees to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, including the number one and number two spots at the department.

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The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is chaired by U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., in the 115th Congress. Isakson is a veteran himself – having served in the Georgia Air National Guard from 1966-1972 – and has been a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs since he joined the Senate in 2005. Isakson’s home state of Georgia is home to more than a dozen military installations representing each branch of the armed services as well as more than 750,000 veterans.