Rep. Colin Allred: Our commitment to veterans can help us lead for all Americans

On Veterans Day and every day, we owe a debt of gratitude to our veterans and their families, but our commitment goes much further than that.

I represent the 32nd District of Texas, where I was born and raised by a single mom who was a Dallas public school teacher. Though it wasn't always easy, I was lucky because I had the support of teachers, coaches and the folks at my local YMCA. With their support, I was able to get a full ride to Baylor, play in the NFL, become a civil rights attorney, and work in the Obama administration. My story would not be possible without the community that helped me, and I am dedicated to making sure that every one of our veterans has the same opportunity to live their version of the American dream, and has easy and efficient access to the benefits they have earned.