Rep. Rick Larsen meets with veterans today at 11:30 a.m. in the American Legion Hall.

He is also scheduled to walk downtown with Sam Jacobson, a member of the San Juan Island Chamber of Commerce board of directors, and visit local businesses.

The Second Congressional District is home to more than 75,000 veterans. Larsen, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, worked with Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., to win funding for the Northwest Washington Community Based Outpatient Clinic, which opened in summer 2009. This veterans’ clinic, located near Skagit Valley Hospital at 307 S. 13th St. in Mount Vernon, brings VA health care closer to home for veterans in Island, San Juan, Skagit, North Snohomish and Whatcom counties.

Formerly, veterans had to travel up to 100 miles each way to receive medical care at the Seattle VA Medical Center.

Larsen’s visit to American Legion Post 163 is part of a series of “Conversations with Veterans” he is participating in across Northwest Washington.

At each of the Conversations with Veterans, Larsen will be joined by local experts on veterans’ health care, employment and benefits who will help answer questions and provide further information about the services available to the 75,000 veterans who call Northwest Washington home.

Larsen met with veterans in Bellingham Aug. 3, in Oak Harbor Aug. 6, in Everett Aug. 7, in Sedro-Woolley Aug. 8.