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WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today welcomed members
of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) to Capitol Hill. Schakowsky
applauded the veterans for their dedication and for coming to Washington
to advocate on behalf of their colleagues for critical issues like veterans
health care and benefits.
“When
you signed up for service, you were promised health care, not a six month
wait. You were promised disability benefits if you were injured and pension
benefits when you retired-- not one or the other. You were promised a number
of basic, decent things in payment for your service. Instead the
Bush Administration has given you run-arounds, bait and switches, and constant
battles,” Schakowsky said.
Schakowsky
added, “Men and women who fought for their country should not have to fight
their own government for veterans’ benefits they were promised and have
fully earned. By introducing a sham budget, the President is trying to
tell us that we don’t have enough money for veterans’ health care-- that
we’re going to fall even further behind in care for our veterans than we
already are.”
Schakowsky
also thanked the PVA for supporting her legislation, HR2353, The Inclusive
Home Design Act. H.R. 2353 is based on the concept of visitability,
an affordable, sustainable, and inclusive design approach for integrating
basic accessibility features into newly-built homes. Specifically, the
legislation requires all newly-built single family homes receiving federal
funds to meet three specific accessibility standards: at least one accessible,
or “zero step,” entrance into the home; 32” clearance doorways on the main
level; and one wheelchair accessible bathroom.
“I
applaud the PVA for supporting H.R. 2353 and will work with the organization
and advocates across the country to pass the visitability bill. By making
new homes accessible, we guarantee that many seniors and disabled veterans
can age at home instead of moving into expensive facilities. This
will save taxpayer money and it will help improve the quality of life of
our senior citizens,” Schakowsky said.
Schakowsky
concluded her meeting with PVA members by stating, “We must take care of
our veterans today so that future generations of committed men and women
will continue to serve in our military. That is why I have joined with
my colleagues in trying to eliminate the disabled veterans’ tax where a
military retiree’s disability check is cut dollar for dollar against their
pension check. It is why I have cosponsored the bill to make veterans’
health care mandatory funding rather than leaving it at the discretion
of the Administration and Congresses. If the President can afford to go
to war, then he better propose a budget that can afford to pay for our
veterans of war.” |
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