Veterans and Military

The men and women who wear the uniform of this country deserve not only our deepest respect, but also our unstinting support.  They have earned it.  I am dedicated to making sure our men and women in the military as well as our veterans receive not only the top-quality health care they deserve, but also the support and services they and their families need as they transition from combat to civilian life.  It is vital that Congress fights for the men and women who fight for us.

Legislation
I am promoting legislation to ensure that promises made are promises kept.

Oversight and Accountability
Americans have called for a change of direction, and the 110th Congress is working to make sure that our members of the military and veterans are treated with dignity and respect.   In only a few short months, we have:

• Held hearings to spur action to fix conditions in Army hospitals, and insisted on accountability for this disgrace http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1195
• Pressured the Veterans Administration to add caseworkers and patient advocates to cut red tape, reduce claims processing time, and make services more accessible http://www1.va.gov/taskforce/
• Begun inquiries on the impact of OEF/OIF on the VA Claims Process, on the V.A.’s and DOD’s performance in treating brain injuries, on transitional services for our returning combat veterans, and other matters crucial to the health and well-being of our Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. http://veterans.house.gov/hearings/index.html
• Directed $3.4 billion over and above the President’s request to the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, and for veterans health and well-being. http://www.speaker.gov/legislation?id=0015

I will continue to advocate for our servicemen and women and our veterans.  We don’t owe our veterans a favor—we need to pay one back.

Legislation
I am promoting legislation to ensure that promises made are promises kept, including:

• Giving our wounded service members and veterans the health care they need in clean and safe housing for long-term care patients.  No Walter Reed conditions ever again.
• Recognizing and treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder when and where veterans need it, and allowing the V.A. to contract private counselors to expand capacity to suit the need.
• Making sure our OEF/OIF veterans with traumatic brain injuries have both the acute and ongoing care they need for the fullest recovery possible.
• Developing and implementing a comprehensive program designed to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans.
• Providing cost-of-living increases for disabled veterans, their dependents and survivors.
• Ensuring that veterans who fought for the US the organized military forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts receive VA benefits
• Demanding that Vietnam Veterans are treated with the honor and respect they have earned

Honoring the Fallen

For the past two years, I have led a bipartisan group of members of Congress in reading the names of the men and women who have given their lives in service to our country in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.  We often invoke the sacrifice of these brave men and women, but we rarely take the time to recognize them individually.  My colleagues and I will continue to read the names of the fallen on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives until each name is read into the Congressional Record.
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/il05_emanuel/morenews/video_march22006_.html
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/speech/il05_emanuel/morenews/video_november92005_.html

Veterans Services

Whether it is helping to obtain military records, checking a claim status, cutting through red tape with the V.A., or securing medals that have been earned but never received, I stand ready to help.  Please call me at 773/267-5926 if I may be of service.

Representative Emanuel presents WWII veteran Joe Brown with his long awaited medals of honor from his service in WWII on the 60th Anniversary of D-Day.

Supporting the troops

“When Chicago firefighters and police collected care packages for four chaplains to distribute to their battalions in Iraq, we needed funds to ship them over.  Congressman Emanuel was able to work with the Department of Defense to connect us to USA Cares, and together we got the packages delivered to the troops in time for the holidays.”
Bill Kugelman, Chicago

“A group of us decided to collect care packages for medics in Iraq, but we hit a roadblock when we found out we needed a name and address for each medic in order to get the packages shipped out.  Congressman Emanuel was able to get what we needed within a few days.
Gayle Littleton, Chicago

Link to American Supports You
http://www.americasupportsyou.mil/americasupportsyou/

Press Releases and Floor Statements

• 11/11/2003 - Honoring Our Veterans

• 8/18/2008 - Emanuel, Chicago-Area Universities Unveil First-In-the-Nation Plan to Utilize New GI Bill, Send Veterans to College

• 5/20/2008 - Emanuel-Ellsworth Fight to Close KBR Loophole

• 4/18/2008 - Emanuel Presents WWII and Korean War Vet with Medals

• 5/18/2007 - Emanuel to Attend Veteran’s Job Fair

• 5/3/2007 - Emanuel Awards Vets Medals

• 3/7/2007 - Congress Continues to Honor America’s Fallen

• 3/1/2007 - Dignity For Wounded Warriors Act Introduced in Senate and House

• 6/16/2006 - Emanuel Applauds House Admin on Honoring Fallen

• 5/22/2006 - Emanuel to Commemorate Memorial Day Weekend with WWII Vets; Will Announce the Safe Return Act of 2006

• 11/10/2005 - Emanuel, Lautenberg Honor Fallen Troops; Resolution to Recognize Fallen from Iraq and Afghanistan

• 11/2/2005 - Emanuel Announces Wounded Heroes Gift Fairness Act

• 10/14/2005 - American Legion Endorses Welcome Home GI Bill; Medals Awarded to World War II Vets

• 6/27/2005 - Congress Continues to Honor America's Fallen

• 6/23/2005 - Congress Honors America's Fallen

• 5/30/2005 - Emanuel Awards Bronze Medal to Battle of the Bulge Veteran

• 5/21/2005 - Business School at University of Illinois Creates $250,000 Scholarship for Vets

• 4/25/2005 - Emanuel Receives Durbin Endorsement of Welcome Home GI Bill

• 4/17/2005 - Emanuel Receives VFW Praise for Welcome Home GI Bill

• 11/10/2004 - Emanuel Brings Chicago World War II Veterans’ Stories to Chicago Students; Presents Medals to Widow of WWII Veteran

• 6/20/2008 - STATEMENT ON 64th ANNIVERSARY OF SIGNING OF THE ORIGINAL GI BILL

• 6/19/2008 - STATEMENT ON THE NEW GI BILL

• 6/21/2006 - Congress Continues to Honor America’s Fallen

• 6/15/2006 - Emanuel Praises 9-11 Widows' Courage

• 3/3/2005 - Emanuel Delivers Remarks on Welcome Home G.I. Bill

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