A
NEW DIRECTION FOR VETERANS & TROOPS
A PROGRESS REPORT ON THE 110th
CONGRESS
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A
top priority for the new Congress has been to fulfill our
commitment to honor our troops and veterans' service to the
nation.
By
improving veterans' health care, rebuilding our military, and
strengthening benefits for our troops and military families, we
are working to keep our promises to our courageous and faithful
men and women in uniform.
For
too long, officials in Washington have neglected our troops and
veterans in a time of war.
On
the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind.
As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we
leave no veteran behind.
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Passed
By Congress
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Signed
Into Law
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STRENGTHENING
VETERANS' SERVICES |
Providing
the largest veterans' funding increase in the 77-year history of
the VA, a $6.6 billion increase in the FY 2008 budget - $3.7
billion over the President's budget
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Strengthening
quality health care for 5.8 million patients and earned benefits
for all veterans.
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Focusing
quality care on the 263,000 veterans returning from Iraq and
Afghanistan, particularly those with Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury
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Reducing
the 400,000 claim backlog and the 177 day average wait for
veterans to access earned benefits by adding 1,800 new claims
processors.
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Providing
much-needed maintenance of VA health care facilities.
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Keeping
our commitment with the American Legion, Disabled American
Veterans (DAV), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and other major
veterans' groups strongly endorsing this historic legislation as
a "major victory" and an "impressive
commitment" to our veterans.
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Addressing
the immediate health care needs of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans
(including mental health care and benefit claims) and restoring VA
health facilities, by adding $5.2 billion in FY 2007
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STRENGTHENING
BENEFITS FOR TROOPS & FAMILIES |
Providing
a pay raise, better military health care and family leave to care
for wounded soldiers |
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Giving
troops a pay raise of 3.5 percent - part of which the President
calls "unnecessary."
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Cleaning
up the scandal of inadequate care for our wounded soldiers at
Walter Reed Army Medical Center and facilities nationwide.
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Strengthening
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury care
at military facilities and preventing TRICARE health care fee
increases on troops.
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Making
progress in ending the Military Families Tax on survivor
benefits and the Disabled Veterans Tax on retirement benefits
for combat-related military disabled retirees.
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Providing
Family Medical Leave for families of soldiers wounded in combat.
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VETOED
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Conducting
oversight on the Walter Reed Army Medical Center scandal, gaps
in the DOD and VA health care systems, and excessive bonuses for
top VA officials.
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STRENGTHENING
THE AMERICAN MILITARY |
Rebuilding
our military readiness-at its lowest level since the Vietnam War |
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Providing
more Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles than the
President, which are proven to save lives in Iraq.
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Creating
a Strategic Reserve Readiness Fund to rapidly address military
equipment shortfalls, including Army National Guard equipment.
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Ensuring
more equipment, training, and body armor for our troops.
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Strengthening
National Guard preparedness for disaster response here at home,
including providing more equipment.
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Giving
troops adequate time at home to reduce strain on those serving
multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Expanding
the number of troops to meet our national security needs.
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=Complete=Incomplete |