Congressman John D. Dingell

November 11, 2008

Washington, DC - Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) made the following comments regarding this year’s tribute to those military heroes who served and protected America.

“Whether you are a veteran of World War II or our current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, our nation owes you much more than just one day of tribute and admiration. Veterans are not just the defenders of freedom and liberty, but they are the role models that inspire the next generation of young people to take on the cause of protecting America and the ideals she stands for. I want to salute the veterans not only for their wartime service, but for their continued dedication to making their towns and cities better places to live even after their military duty ended.”

The Congressman joined with his colleagues to pass important legislation that improves the health care and education benefits provided to veterans.  Congress recently passed a spending bill that provided the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) $47.6 billion--a $2.8 billion increase over President Bush’s request and an increase of $4.5 billion above the 2008 level.  This builds upon last year’s increase of $7.7 billion which was the largest single increase in the 77-year history of the VA.  During the 110th Congress, $11.8 billion was allotted for improvements for the VA Health Care system, to improve care for the 5.8 million veterans now in the system.  This will mean more qualified doctors and nurses, 3,100 new caseworkers to speed up claims processing, and a more intense focus on research and treatment for post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. 

Congressman Dingell was also the cosponsor of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 which has made educating our veterans yet again a national priority and was one of the most significant legislative victories for our veterans this year.  Since 1944, veterans have benefited from the right to educational assistance programs.  Congress has now ensured that future generations of veterans will benefit from of this legislation which expands educational benefits—similar to the benefits provided in the original GI Bill—to both active duty and reservists who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan for at least three months after September 11, 2001.     

The Congressman added: “I also want to acknowledge those who have served and returned, only to find hardship and new challenges at home. As a nation, we are better at showing understanding and compassion for those wounded by war, and we also realize that we must strive to do more. I want to show appreciation for those families supporting loved ones suffering while coping with the physical and mental trauma of war and those fine people at Veterans’ Medical Centers and others who work with our wounded warriors. I believe this is their holiday too.”  

Congressman Dingell himself served in the United States Army during World War II, and attended college with the help of the original GI Bill.