With the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center in Iron Mountain, the region not surprisingly has a large percentage of veterans living on both sides of the Michigan-Wisconsin border.

Knowing what government benefits those veterans rightly qualify for can be confusing, especially with new legislation and a new administration in Washington.

So we applaud the Americans for Constitutional Enforcement for hosting an event Thursday that will feature U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman to discuss the Department of Veterans Affairs and VA Choice Program.

The Republican from Watersmeet, elected a year ago in November, sits on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, is chairman of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and a member of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee.

He also serves on the House Budget Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee, including subcommittees for Energy and Mineral Resources, Federal Lands and Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs.

So Bergman definitely should have some insights into a number of issues important to the Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin.

And it provides an opportunity as well to meet with your congressman — the only elected official in Washington who comes from the Upper Peninsula.

Given the size of Michigan’s 1st Congressional District — it includes not just the entire U.P. but 16 counties below the bridge, the second-largest district east of the Mississippi River — Bergman can’t be expected to be in Iron Mountain all that often. His last visit here appears to have been to Dickinson County Healthcare System in May.

So area residents should take advantage of the chance to hear first-hand, and ask questions, about what’s been happening in Washington that might affect them.

While veterans will be the main focus, the meeting is open to the public throughout the region, as long as people remain respectful, according to officials with the Americans for Constitutional Enforcement.

And Bergman will not be alone — also expected at the event are Brad Nelson, public affairs officer for the VA Medical Center, along with DCHS Administrator and CEO John Schon and Joe Rizzo, DCHS public relations manager.

The event will be 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the lower level of Fornetti Hall on the Bay West campus, 2801 U.S. 2 on Iron Mountain’s north side.

Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with your congressman.