Press Release  
For Immediate Release
November 10, 2008

Contact:  Ricci Graham  
(510) 763-0370 

(Oakland, CA) – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-09) extends her support for our veterans, service members and their families on Veteran’s Day.

"As the daughter of a veteran, I believe we have a moral responsibility to keep our promise to the people who have served our nation. American veterans, service members and their families deserve our full support and I will continue to fight for increased and improved services for the people who have fought for us,” said Rep. Lee.

As a member of the appropriations committee, Congresswoman Lee supported increased funding for our veterans in the FY 2009 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill that was passed this summer. The 2009 bill builds on the historic increase for veterans passed into law last year, which was the largest funding increase in the 77 year history of the Veterans Administration.

“It is essential that we continue to work to provide quality housing, health care and education for our military troops and their families,” continued Rep. Lee.

Congress also passed the new G.I. bill, which provides the full cost of tuition at four-year colleges to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, as well as recognizing the sacrifice of our 1.8 million Reserve and National Guard troops by better aligning their educational benefits with their length of service. 

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