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At this critical time in our nation’s history, we must show our veterans – not just tell them – that we are grateful for their service to our country. One of the most important benefits we provide to veterans is health care. I am working to maintain, enhance, and guarantee an adequate level of health care funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs by fighting to provide more funding for veterans health care, to make VA health care funding a guaranteed instead of discretionary budget item, and to keep New York’s VA facilities open. This should be a time when we do more for our veterans, not less. Our nation has made a pact with the Armed Forces – a commitment that those who served their country would have access to quality health care through the VA health care system.
These men and women are the best this nation has to offer, and they deserve to be treated as the best. We need to be there with open arms when our veterans need our support, and we must continue to stand with them over the years. For all of these reasons, I continue to work on a variety of initiatives, including health care and beyond, to support and honor our veterans and their loved ones.
Guaranteed Funding of VA Health Care
I believe there is no more important way of honoring our veterans than to ensure they receive quality health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Indeed, I think we should have guaranteed funding for the VA. I don 't think that the VA should be fighting every year to get enough money to take care of the people that took care of us. MORE»
Support for Our Wounded Heroes
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have resulted in increasing numbers of service members returning with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). We have a duty to reform and ready the military for the increasing number of veterans suffering from these complex injuries. Today I am taking steps needed to ensure our men and women in uniform and their families have the care and support they need and deserve. MORE»
Advocating for Fair Retirement and Disability Benefits
The disturbing situation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center revealed a series of shortcomings in the system that treats wounded service members. Above all, however, it raised serious questions about the process by which the DOD and VA determine disability ratings, which in turn establish the disability benefits to be received by these men and women who served our nation so courageously and honorably. MORE»
Honoring the Order of the Purple Heart for Military Merit
Over 1.5 million veterans have been awarded the prestigious Purple Heart for Military Merit. In April 2007, I introduced two resolutions to honor the service and sacrifice of those brave men and women who have been awarded the Purple Heart. S.Con.Res. 26 recognizes the Military Order of the Purple Heart on its 75th anniversary, and S. Con. Res. 27 supports the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day. MORE»
Cold War Medal
From our World War II veterans to our veterans just returning from Iraq, it is important that we remember and honor their contributions. It is also important that we not forget those who served during the Cold War, a decades long struggle in which the forces of freedom eventually triumphed. Our victory in the Cold War was made possible by the willingness of millions of Americans in uniform to stand prepared against the threat from behind the Iron Curtain. MORE»
Honoring Korean War Veterans
It is also fitting that we pay tribute to the tremendous courage and sacrifice demonstrated by the men and women who served in the Korean War. Our servicemen and women sacrificed so much in order to promote the principles of democracy and freedom on the Korean Peninsula and I have been supportive of efforts by our government to officially recognize their service and honor their bravery. MORE»
Supporting Gold Star Spouses and Gold Star Parents
It is our obligation to help support the families of veterans, particularly the families of those veterans who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country. MORE»
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