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“ Democratic priorities are clear: we will fight to get the economy back on track, we will create jobs, and we will help unemployed workers. ” |
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House Democrats Host Roundtable Discussion with Veterans' and Military Organizations
Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Congressman Lane Evans (D-IL), ranking Democrat on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, and leading House Democrats hosted a roundtable discussion with leaders of veterans’ and military organizations on Thursday.
The leaders discussed the lack of funding for veterans’ programs in the Bush budget and pledged to work together on legislation to eliminate the disabled veterans’ tax and the survivors’ benefit tax.
"The Democratic leadership is proud to stand shoulder to shoulder with our veterans and military retirees in the fight to secure the benefits they have earned," Pelosi said. "The experience and expertise these groups bring to this fight is invaluable. On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind."
The President’s budget raises health care costs for more than 500,000 veterans, imposing new co-payments and enrollment fees that will cost veterans more than $2 billion over five years. It fails to repeal the disabled veterans tax, which forces disabled military retirees to give up one dollar of their pension for every dollar of disability pay they receive. And it fails to repeal the survivors’ tax, which takes away a third of the pension benefits paid to the surviving spouses of military retirees after they turn 62.
"The budget should be a statement of our national values," Pelosi said. "It is a disgrace that brave Americans who fought for our freedom now have to fight their own government to get the quality health care and secure retirement they were promised. We must pass a budget that ensures veterans’ health care, pensions, and survivors' benefits."
Congressman Evans said: "These roundtable discussions with our veterans’ and military groups are critical to helping us stay connected, stay energized, and remain effective in working against unprecedented threats to veterans’ benefits and services. The VA budget the President sent to Congress is insulting to veterans and their families and, incredibly, there are rumblings from some of our Republican colleagues that the White House didn’t cut enough from veterans' funding. House Democrats are pleased to be reaching out to the veterans' community, actively seeking their input, and developing strategies to combat the budget and policies of an anti-veteran Administration."
Rick Weidman, National Legislative Director for Vietnam Veterans of America: "We are grateful to Leader Pelosi for affording the nation's Veterans' and Military Organizations direct access to the top Democratic leadership in order to explain our issues and priorities. We can only hope others will follow her example."
The leaders concluded the meeting by planning to hold regular meetings on veterans’ affairs and to create task forces focused on specific issues.
“ Democrats are united in presenting a New Direction for America, one that will make our nation as strong as its people, one that brings opportunity, security, and prosperity to all Americans. ”
Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
