Earlier this year, I co-sponsored the G.I. Bill of Rights, which will significantly improve the lives of our nation's brave and deserving veterans. This bill will increase the benefits our men and women in uniform receive today, and will provide long overdue benefits for the veterans and military retirees who have already served our great nation. This legislation essentially modernizes the current G.I. Bill, which has been in place since 1944 and was enacted to honor and assist our veterans of World War II.  

For military retirees and the families of those who died in the line of duty, the G.I. Bill of Rights repeals the Disabled Veterans Tax, and puts an end to the unfair Military Families Tax. This bill will also improve efficiency and accuracy of benefit claims -- veterans with a service-related disability claim have a right to expect timeliness in resolving their appeals, and this is not happening today.  

The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. has an ongoing nationwide effort to collect oral histories from America’s veterans from World War I through current conflicts throughout the world.   The Veterans History Project aims to collect recorded oral histories, pictures, letters, and journals of veterans.  To date, the Library of Congress has successfully collected more than 40,000 personal histories.  I encourage you, this Veterans Day, to contact the Library of Congress at 888-371-5854 or by visiting their website www.loc.gov/vets, and obtain a veteran’s oral history kit and reach out to veterans in your community and ask them to share their story with you so their story can be preserved in the Library of Congress.

I would personally like to recognize and express my heartfelt gratitude to Sheila Lampkin of Monticello, Arkansas for her contributions to the Veterans History Project.  Upon learning of the Veterans History Project, Sheila has personally collected over 30 oral histories throughout Monticello and the surrounding communities.  Her tireless effort and continued dedication will ensure that the stories of Arkansas’ veterans will be preserved for decades and generations to come for not only the children of veterans and their families, but as an important element of our history at America’s Library of Congress.

On this Veteran’s Day, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the soldiers across this great country. These selfless individuals and their families make tremendous sacrifices to serve our country.  I am forever grateful to our veterans for all they have done to keep our nation free.