Rep. John Boccieri (D-Ohio) on Wednesday compared receiving threats for voting for healthcare legislation to fighting in a war.

The freshman lawmaker, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan in the Air Force Reserve, voted no on the bill in November but switched his vote to yes on Sunday's vote.

“Having flown missions in and out of Iraq and Afghanistan, I know what it’s like to be in harm’s way. But I never imagined serving in Congress could feel the same," he said in a statement. "While Members of Congress, including myself, experience threats against our lives, our families, and our staff in the wake of the historic health care vote, I am calling on our leaders to be responsible with their remarks, especially those with a national microphone."