For over 200 years, our nation has been protected by brave men and women who put their country before themselves and I am humbled by that. The respect and admiration I have for our nation’s veterans is immeasurable. Veterans’ issues are of great personal importance to me. My grandfather received the Purple Heart for his service in World War I, and my father, a veteran of World War II, received the Purple Heart after being wounded in the Battle of the Bulge. Both returned to the United States determined to make a better life for them and their families. The values they instilled in me have guided me through good and difficult times.
Inscribed on the base of the Korean War Memorial is the following: “Our nation honors her sons and daughters who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met.” These words ring true today as so many of our servicemen and women are fighting oversees in the War on Terror.
Taking care of these troops when they return home as well as ensuring that veterans of prior wars have the services and care they need is one of my top priorities as a United States Senator.
Over the past 10 years, funding for veterans’ medical care has doubled. This includes a 34 percent increase under President Bush. In 2003, I helped to pass legislation ensuring that retired members of the military with a service connected disability would receive both retirement pay and disability. Before we passed this legislation, one offset the other reducing the benefits that disabled veterans could receive. I did not think this was right considering how much these men and women sacrificed, and I was proud that we were able to make this change.
Like many Minnesotans, I was troubled by the St. Paul Pioneer Press article on Monday, July 12, 2004 entitled, “Wounded and Forgotten” indicating that almost 600,000 disabled veterans were eligible for benefits but not receiving them – simply because they didn’t know they could. It is clear that we need to do a better job of reaching out to veterans so they get the health care they need. To address this problem, I introduced the Veterans Benefits Outreach Act of 2004. This legislation calls for the Veterans Administration to develop a strategy each year to reach out to veterans who are not taking advantage of the programs for which they are eligible. This will provide veterans with the chance to make an informed decision about the benefits America has promised them.
I feel that it is very important veterans know that their spouses will be taken care of if they should die from an illness resulting from wounds or other service connected disabilities. On that note, in June, 2004, the Senate approved a measure with my strong support that would end the reduction in Survivor Benefit Plan payments when a widow reaches 62 years old.
Regarding the Survivor Benefits Plan, when a military retiree dies from illness resulting from wounds or other service connected disabilities, the surviving spouse is authorized to receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. This triggers an offset in funds received by the widow in which they receive one dollar less in Survivor Benefit Plan for each dollar received from Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. I want the veterans of Minnesota to know that I am working hard to pass a bill that eliminates the offset and ensures there is no reduction in benefits.
In May, 2004 I introduced legislation to expand health care coverage for newborn babies born to veterans relying on VA for health insurance coverage. Although female veterans have access to prenatal and delivery services at VA contracted hospitals, the VA health insurance program does not cover post-delivery care for newborn infants. As a result, it is the responsibility of parents to find alternative private coverage or enter need-based federal health programs. While uninsured parents can often gain coverage through Medicaid, the process can take up to two-weeks, leaving the newborn uninsured for that period of time. My legislation would instruct the VA to provide health insurance for the uninsured newborns of veterans for a maximum of fourteen days following delivery. The Department of Veterans Affairs strongly supports this bill and the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee voted unanimously in favor of the bill in July, 2004. The legislation is expected to go before the full Senate for a vote in September, 2004.
I have also worked toward relief for veterans and families who acquired AIDS as a result of blood transfusions while serving their country. I believe we have an obligation to help these patriots, particularly because of the way AIDS can destroy entire families when it is transmitted to spouses and unborn children. Nothing we do in Washington can undo what has happened to these veterans and their families, but as a US Senator, I am committed to passing meaningful legislation that will at least help them to cope with their heartache.
Standing on Omaha Beach on the 40th Anniversary of D-Day, President Reagan said, “Today, in their memory, and for all who fought here, we celebrate the triumph of democracy. We reaffirm the unity of democratic people who fought a war and then joined with the vanquished in a firm resolve to keep the peace. We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we may always be free.
I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with those whose service and sacrifice has made our country the greatest nation on earth. If you would like to learn more about U.S. veteran’s policy, I encourage you to visit the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs website which can be found at www.va.gov.
|
