Sen. John Sununu (R-Waterville Valley) will meet Tuesday with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James Peake to discuss extending further health benefits to former Granite State servicemen, the senator's office said. The statement also described Sununu's continued interest in making radiation therapy available to more New Hampshire veterans.

Peake will be in Manchester that morning to visit the Veterans Administration Medical Center.

Sununu is in the midst of a difficult re-election race against Democratic former New Hampshire Governor Jean Shaheen, with Shaheen leading Sununu in most polls.

Veterans' issues promise to be a hot political topic in the coming months as more American troops return from Iraq and Afghanistan in need of health care, and in the aftermath of last year's neglect scandal at Walter Reed National Army Medical Center.