Honoring and Supporting Our Veterans
On Veterans Day this November 11th, 90 years after Germany signed the Armistice to end World War I, we honor and celebrate those who so nobly served our country. There are 25 million veterans from World War I through the Global War on Terrorism. More than 2 million veterans live in California, the most of any state.
Congress has been working non-stop to make sure everyone who sacrificed for our country is treated with the respect and care they deserve. Overall, veterans funding has nearly doubled since 1995. This substantial commitment of resources resulted from the need to dramatically improve services, as well as to care for our new generation of veterans.
Increasing veterans’ access to health care has been a top priority, and we’ve made great progress. The number of veterans using VA health care has doubled over the past ten years. At the same time, we have kept a lid on health care fees and co-pays. The VA health care system has stood out for its cost-efficiency and quality of care. We owe veterans and taxpayers nothing less.
Congress recently approved, with my support, the 2009 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, which provides $41 billion for veterans’ medical care including mental health and substance abuse treatment, rural health initiatives, patient travel reimbursements, and assistance for homeless vets. It also includes $233 million to continue a quality of life initiative for troops and their families.
I also voted this year to improve veterans’ education opportunities by expanding benefits under the improved G.I. Bill. The new bill gives veterans a full, four-year college education, provides help with tutoring and housing costs, allows the full transfer of benefits from veterans to their spouse or children, and matches dollar for dollar financial aid veterans receive directly from colleges they are attending.
Veterans seeking assistance can contact the VA at (800) 827-1000 or visit the VA’s website at www.va.gov. They can also contact my district office at (909) 575-6226. For information about jobs available to veterans, visit www.hirevetsfirst.gov, a website that enables employers to find veteran job seekers.
While we stand with our veterans each day of the year, on Veterans Day, we especially celebrate and pay tribute to the service of every soldier, sailor, airman, Marine and Coastguardsman. They deserve our deepest gratitude for their extraordinary sacrifice and unyielding protection of our freedoms.
