From jobs to homelessness, Tricare and Social Security to the U.S. economy and the drawdown of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, a forum held Wednesday afternoon with Conressman Rick Larsen  at the American Legion in Oak Harbor covered them all.

The Democrat from Arlington was in town on the last of a four-stop tour across the second district, talking to veterans about various issues. Approximately 40 people attended, in addition to the congressman’s staff members and representatives of the Veterans Administration and local agencies.

Before opening the discussions to questions, Larsen briefed the group on a project he’s been assigned to work on for the House Armed Services Committee which is designed to connect small businesses, including those owned by veterans, to available contracting opportunities at the Pentagon.

“Small businesses can be much more flexible, much more innovative and bring the necessary skills that sometimes bigger contractors just can’t bring to support the men and women of the military,” said Larsen.

He also talked about the Veteran Employment Transition Act, House Bill HR865, which would provide an extension of the work opportunity tax credit to employers who hire combat veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

“Although the unemployment rate nationally is about 9.1 percent, the unemployment rate for Afghanistan and Iraqi war veterans is at least 13 percent,” Larsen said. “So the VET Act finds incentives for employers to hire combat veterans.”

Larsen said he had also been on the road conducting meetings with student veterans, who voiced concern about the loss of break pay, which compensated students when school was not in session. While lawmakers are trying to reinstate break pay, Larsen said his staff has been working with the Northwest Workforce Development Council to see if they can identify jobs times and connect student veterans with employers.

“We’re not waiting on legislation, we’re trying to figure out a way to create a solution out of thin air to help our student veterans,” he said.

Also speaking at the forum was Lisa Clark, the director of the Island County Service Center of the Opportunity Council. Clark addressed the growing issue of homelessness among veterans, and announced that Island County is among five counties recently awarded a grant through Housing and Urban Development for supportive services for veteran families.

Clark said Island County should receive at least $60,000, which includes $20,000 in matching funds from the Opportunity Council.

“The main point here is that it’s one thing to get a homeless veteran and family into housing, and it’s another to help them stay there,” added Larsen.

When asked by an audience member about potential changes to military retirement that could affect the number of people going into military service, Larsen said there needs to be a balanced approach to dealing with the current budget deficit, one that includes both spending cuts and revenue sources. However, Larsen said there are some things that should be protected.

“Veterans and retirees are part of that,” he said. “So is making sure Social Security stays strong; making sure we don’t turn Medicare into a voucher system is important as well, so there are some basics we need to stay really on top of.”

Other concerns among those who attended Wednesday included questions on cost of living adjustments to Social Security, whether contractors would be used to fill any gaps left by the drawdown of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, Larsen’s view of baseline budgeting and a flat tax rate and whether there is a mechanism in place to weed out redundant government programs.

The short answer to each of those questions was that there is a COLA ahead due to an increase in the inflation rate; the U.S. will not drawdown the military in Iraq and Afghanistan and then pay contractors to go in; baseline budgeting is unlikely and a flat tax rate would eliminate deductions and exemptions people wouldn’t be willing to give up; and the Government Accountability Office conducts audits on various departments when requested to do so by Congress.

Larsen encouraged those attending to keep asking questions.

“You might be here next year and say I’m going to ask that question again, and you should,” he said. “Members of Congress all over the country need to know what you all think, whether you’re a veteran, a retiree or the spouse of a veteran.”