On October 18, the National Commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) called on Congress to immediately pass the Veterans' and Pentagon budgets for 2008 to ensure that the recommendations of two veterans' benefits commissions are enacted.  The American Legion also wrote a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, warning that the continued delay in passing the budget is "disturbing to not only the American Legion and other veterans' and military service organizations, but to every veteran who is dependent on (the) VA for timely access to quality health care, earned benefits, and other services provided by a grateful nation."

I voted for the House VA budget bill in June and support its $6.6 billion increase in VA health care funding over last year.  I have supported annual increases in the VA budget since coming to Congress and I am hopeful that by the time this column appears in your local paper the House leadership will have finally allowed the VA budget to pass.  Our veterans deserve continued access to health care and benefits and there is no valid reason for the House leadership to drag its feet in allowing final passage of this legislation.

Separately, last week, I was pleased to learn of President Bush's nomination of retired Lt. General Jim Peake as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs.  A decorated Vietnam veteran, Dr. Peake brings 40 years service in the U.S. Army in addition to being an accomplished physician.  He was Surgeon General of Army for four years and after his military service was Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Project Hope, a non-profit international health foundation.  At Project Hope, Peake helped to coordinate civilian volunteers aboard the Navy Hospital Ship Mercy in responding to the Indonesian tsunami and marshalling volunteers from the Navy Hospital Ship Comfort in aiding Hurricane Katrina victims.  It is hoped his nomination process in the U.S. Senate will be swift.

As we approach Veterans Day, I would like to note that recent acts of vandalism to the U.S. Vietnam Veterans' Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC will not be tolerated.  On September 7, 14 of the memorial's panels were stained by an unknown substance.  The vandals remain at large and restoration work is ongoing.  On October 23, I joined with my House colleagues in voting for legislation condemning this act of vandalism on the memorial honoring the 58,256 Americans who died or are missing in action in Vietnam.

Lastly, I am pleased to report that the U.S. Department of Veterans' Affairs has clarified its position to continue to allow the "recitation of words" during American flag presentations for veteran burials when requested by the veteran and/or their families.  The tradition of the religious "13-fold" flag presentation ceremony will be allowed to continue at veterans' cemeteries.  Many veterans were rightly outraged at a recent attempt to ban the "13-fold" flag presentation ceremony from veterans' cemeteries because of their religious nature.  It is proper and fitting that this practice be allowed to continue.