Press Releases

1. 10/18/2006 Statement -- Veterans Health Care
   

2. 9/9/2005 Press Release -- Veterans Advisory Committee
   Representatives Miller and Tauscher Announce Launch of Contra Costa County Veterans Advisory Committee

3. 7/1/2005 Press Release -- Independence Day
   Representative Miller Praises Men and Women of U.S. Armed Forces; Encourages Veterans, Members of Armed Forces to Attend Info Fair in Concord on July 9

4. 6/30/2005 Press Release -- Veterans' Health Care
   Representative Miller Votes to Correct Funding Shortage For Veterans’ Health Care Faults House Leaders for Failure to Offer Full, Immediate Fix

New Legislation for the 109th Congress
1) GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century

America’s veterans are an important part of our society. These men and women have made great sacrifices on behalf of our country, during times of war and peace. They deserve our respect and they deserve to have the promises that our nation made to them kept. Tragically, veterans have been let down by their own government when it comes to receiving adequate medical care and other benefits.

I am fighting hard in Congress on behalf of veterans, and working closely with local veterans through the Veterans' Advisory Board that I formed with Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher to keep open lines of communication between veterans and Congress.

Veterans' health care is a critical issue. And the fact is that the Bush Administration’s budget proposal for the coming year falls far short of what veterans in California – and the country – need and deserve in terms of health care. I agree with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, which has expressed its dismay at the President’s inattention to veterans’ medical care needs in his budget.

In addition to health care there are other benefits issues important to Veterans that are under debate in Congress. In the following link House Democrats’ web site. You can find information a variety of efforts that I and other Democrats in the House are taking in support of America’s veterans.

The following are important veterans' bills I have cosponsored in the 108th Congress

1. The Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act

   Guarantees adequate funding for veterans’ services every year. Recently, Republican proposals included considerable cuts to these programs, but I believe veterans’ services should be protected from budget fights.

2. The Retired Pay Restoration Act

   Allows disabled veterans to collect their retirement pension and disability benefits at the same time. Veterans’ service organizations support this legislation, and my Democratic colleagues and I are working to convince the Republicans to allow a vote on this legislation which means so much to today’s veterans. Although the majority leadership passed a half-a-loaf compromise measure, the report Representative Tauscher and I issued in November shows that thousands of veterans will be left behind by the GOP plan.

3. The Salute to Veterans and the Armed Forces

   This is a comprehensive package of benefits designed to honor the contributions of those who have served America in the Armed Forces. The package strengthens the entire system by ensuring that those who are serving today have incentives to continue, those who served in previous conflicts are properly honored, and those who choose to serve in the future are coming into a system that is the best in the world.

   This package concentrates on crucial benefits for retired and disabled members of the military, makes health care for veterans more accessible and affordable, and expands educational opportunities for reservists. The plan further enhances benefits for the families of those killed while on active duty, and gives an essential “thank you” to our troops now returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

4. H.R. 1906: The Servicemembers' Transition Assistance Program and Services Enhancement Act

   H.R. 1906 would ensure that all servicemembers have the opportunity to participate in Transition Assistance Program (TAP) services. TAP services include, employment counseling, career assistance, and veterans' benefits information for servicemembers returning to civilian life. Currently, only the Marine Corps requires mandatory TAP attendance for all of its separating or retiring servicemembers.