Minnesota Rep. Tim Walz, citing 24 years of military service and nine years on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, is making a bid to be named the committee's ranking member.

Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla., the current ranking member, was indicted this month for her role in an alleged charity fraud scheme and faces a tough re-election bid.

Walz, a Mankato Democrat and former command sergeant major in the Minnesota National Guard, sent a letter to colleagues on Thursday making the case for himself. He had sought the same position in 2014, but was passed over by leadership in favor of Brown, who, after being indicted, was forced to step down temporarily from the post. Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., has assumed the post.

In his letter, Walz made no mention of Brown's mounting legal problems, but pointed to his work on veteran suicide through the Clay Hunt SAV Act, his work ensuring benefits to veterans exposed to Agent Orange and other toxins, and his work on reducing the Veterans Affairs backlog as examples of his successes.

He also cited recognition from many veterans organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Disabled American Veterans, and American Veterans (AMVETS).

"Our VA system is in crisis, and now, more than ever, Democrats need a strong, respected voice to address these problems head on and build the coalition required [to] get veterans and their families the care they deserve," Walz wrote.

Committee leadership elections for both parties will take place following the November elections. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Fla., the current chairman of the committee, announced his retirement earlier this year.

Mark Brunswick • 612-673-4434