Lentz Hosts Cleland and Veterans

From Friday's inbox:

The Herbert W. Best VFW Post 928 in Folsom yesterday was the site for a town hall style meeting hosted by State Representative Bryan R. Lentz. Joining him was special guest, former US Senator and Vietnam War veteran, Max Cleland.

Lentz and Cleland spoke to the more than seventy veterans from recent and past wars on a variety of topics including better funding for VA hospitals, ending our dependency on foreign oil by creating green jobs and investing in renewable energy, and how the expansion of the GI Bill affords more opportunity for veterans when they return home from their service.

“When our soldiers return home, they should return home to the sincere thanks of a grateful nation,” Lentz stated. “They shouldn’t just come home to parties and parades, but to good jobs, affordable health care and quality education for their children. Those are issues I will always fight for.”

Cleland showed his support for Lentz’s potential congressional bid by telling the packed house, “We need people in Washington like Bryan – his strength, his courage, his public service are all essential in navigating our country through these troubled times. But, it is his personal example that makes him a leader.”

Bryan Lentz is a former U.S. Army Ranger and Iraq war veteran who also served overseas in the Sinai Peninsula and Bosnia . Among his official commendations is the Bronze Star for Service and the War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal. Lentz also served six years as a prosecutor with the District Attorney's office, where he prosecuted violent crimes. He is currently serving in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from Delaware County . He lives in Swarthmore with his wife Jennifer and their son Thomas.

“Senator Cleland is an inspiration and I am honored by his kind words, honored to count him as a friend and proud to have him at my home VFW Post here in Delaware County ,” said Lentz. “This event was a great opportunity to hear directly from veterans and other community members about the issues most important to them and we were very fortunate to have a man of Senator Cleland’s experience and extraordinary record of public service on hand to discuss important issues with us.”

As State Representative, Lentz serves on the House Veteran’s Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, the Transportation Committee, and is Chairman of the Subcommittee on Federal State Relations for the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee. During his time in the state legislature, Lentz has fought to create jobs, fought for tougher sentencing laws when violent crimes are committed against the elderly, tightening parole regulations for repeat violent offenders, and promoting the local economy through clean energy initiatives.

Lentz has already built a top-flight congressional campaign team that spearheaded the victories of Congressman Joe Sestak, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and Governor Ed Rendell. He plans to formally announce his candidacy in the near future.