I am a strong supporter of our nation's veterans. I believe we all owe a debt to the millions of Americans who have served in our armed services. Below are some of the veterans initiatives I support.

Leading the Fight for Full Concurrent Receipt

Year after year, members of Congress revisit the issue of injustice in compensation for our nation's veterans--the ban on concurrent receipt. As too many are well-aware, disabled veterans face the obstacle of forfeiting retirement pay dollar-for-dollar if they receive disability compensation. This policy is unacceptable, and I am committed to securing fair policy to provide our veterans with the entirety of their earned compensation.

I have been fighting for five years to allow for full concurrent receipt, and despite current disparities with the Administration, we have made many great strides towards fair compensation for our veterans. In 2003, Congress passed my legislation allowing disable retired veterans with at least a fifty percent disability rating to become eligible for full concurrent receipt over a ten-year period. This measure passed despite veto threats from the Bush Administration

Most recently, I have introduced legislation (S.558) which would provide concurrent receipt to military retirees, with 20 or more years of service, who are rated less than 50%. It would also eliminate the 10-year phase-in period for veterans who draw their disability and retirement pay; it will also change my 2003 bill to give full concurrent receipt to all veterans with service connected disabilities. There are currently 29 cosponsors to this legislation

I am also working to help veterans considered "unemployable". After the 2003 legislation was signed into law, the Administration decided to leave out "unemployable" veterans. It is very unfortunate that the Administration draws a distinction between terms like "100%" and "totally disabled" This year I offered a "Sense of the Senate" for those veterans with a service-connected disability rated as total by virtue of unemployability. Although I was able to unanimously pass my resolution in the Senate, it was ultimately thrown out in conference with the House of Representatives.

Congress faces a simple decision--to choose a policy of fairness, or a continued policy of unfounded discrimination. It is my hope that the 109th Congress will make right the unfair treatment that has persisted so long. Until such is achieved, I will continue fighting for full concurrent receipt, on behalf of those who have fought for this great nation.

Increasing Funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

As a member of the Department of Veterans Affairs-Department of Housing and Urban Development (VA-HUD) Appropriations committee, we must fully fund veterans health care. I worked to restore an additional $1.3 billion in emergency funding for the VA last year--totaling $30 billion for health care, $3 billion more than the previous year.

Improving Veterans Health Care Across Nevada

For years, I have been working to bring a new VA hospital to the Las Vegas Valley. In September I was able to secure $200 million for the construction of the new VA Hospital. The first construction contract will be awarded in August, 2006. In addition, I am requesting funding for a 120 Bed NHCU will be constructed immediately adjacent to the new medical facility.

Additionally, the CARES commission on veterans health care recognized the need for a Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Fallon and an expansion of services at the Reno VA Medical Center. I am committed to providing Nevada 's veterans with more access to quality health care options, including a new CBOC in Elko.

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