Oregon Public Broadcasting

Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden toured eastern and central Oregon this week.

With the Senate in its summer recess, Wyden says he is focused on finding funds for Oregon's rural veterans.

In La Grande, Wyden opened the doors of a new community-based veterans clinic.

And in Bend, Wyden says he is working with the Department of Veterans Affairs to build a similar center to help local veterans.

Ron Wyden: “Mental health concerns are the invisible disability, this is the one that we are seeing a huge explosion in the rate of growth of these services and there just haven't been enough counselors to step in.”

In Bend, about 50 veterans told Wyden a central Oregon community veterans clinic could provide more accessible treatment.

Wyden also says he is trying to drum up support for a new GI bill - which is estimated at $2 billion to $4 billion. The bill would provide educational and health benefits to American veterans, including soldiers returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan.