Veterans' Affairs

Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have fought to ensure that all veterans receive the benefits they have earned and deserve. Congress must keep its promises to our veterans who have served our country with honor.

I am proud that under the Republican Majority my colleagues and I were able to increase the overall VA budget by $23.5 billion in 6 years – from $48 billion in 2001 to approximately $71.5 billion in 2006, a 49% increase. I will work to ensure that Congress continues this trend and provides the VA with the necessary funding to support our veterans.

Congress must fulfill its obligations to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. I support improving veterans’ health care through expanded choice and reforms. We must ensure that federal agencies and facilities provide top quality care for all veterans. I will continue to work with my colleagues to simplify and streamline the disability retirement system for veterans and eliminate the backlog in veterans’ benefits claims by using information technology and simplifying claims processing.

As our brave military men and women fighting in the Global War on Terror return home, it is critical that we provide them with the necessary resources and benefits as they transition to civilian life. I am pleased that Congress has recently passed legislation to expand and enhance education benefits for veterans. Since its inception, the Montgomery GI Bill has provided veterans with the necessary resources to pursue an education. However, college tuition benefits provided under the GI Bill must keep pace with the rising cost of higher education in our country. The enacted legislation works to accomplish this and provides a long-overdue modernization of this program by ensuring those who have served our country receive the best education benefits our government can provide.

Press Releases Related to Veterans' Affairs

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