Veterans' Affairs

In 2007, I voted for the largest single increase in the 77-year history of the Veterans Administration.  The VA budget increase, which was included in the fiscal year 2008 budget resolution, will provide $3.4 billion more than had been requested by President Bush and increase total spending on the veterans by $6.7 billion from the previous year. 

The FY 2008 VA budget will help the VA health system recover from years of neglect.  It will permit the VA to meet rising health care costs, and at the same time serve an estimated 219,000 new veterans that entered the VA system in 2007.  The budget will help to reduce the VA’s 400,000 claim backlog by adding more than 1,100 new processors, and will provide $500 million more than the President requested for much-needed maintenance of VA health care facilities.  It provides $600 million more for mental health, PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) than the President requested, and includes funding for five new poly-trauma centers and three Centers of Excellence for Mental Health and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  In supporting the 2008 Budget Resolution, I also voted against the President's plan to impose new enrollment fees for veterans’ health care, and to double drug co-payments for one million veterans. 

The Fiscal 2008 budget passed by the House was endorsed by all of America's major veterans service organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, Disabled Veterans of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Military Officers Association of America, Association of the United States Army, National Association for Uniformed Services, and AMVETS.

Veterans’ Health Care Improvement Act

This year I voted for the Veterans’ Health Care Improvement Act, HR 2847, when it passed the House.  This bill will allow the VA to make grants to conduct workshop programs that have been shown to assist in therapeutic readjustment and rehabilitation.  It will also expand and improve readjustment and mental health services for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans. Improving the VA's outreach is essential to the welfare of youngest veterans, an estimated one-third of who return from Iraq and Afghanistan facing mental health challenges.

Wounded Warrior Assistance Act

I voted for H.R. 1538, the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act, when it passed the House in 2007.  This important bill is a first step in addressing the problems brought to light by the inadequate living conditions and the administrative challenges experienced by some patients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The bill would substantially improve outpatient medical care for wounded service members at military health care facilities by restoring integrity and efficiency to disability evaluations, and by cutting bureaucratic red-tape.  It would also make a number of improvements to the system used for transitioning wounded service members from the Armed Forces to the VA system. 

Mandatory Veterans Health Funding

I have cosponsored legislation in the House that would guarantee adequate funding for veteran’s healthcare in the annual budget. 

The Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act, or H.R. 2514, would ensure that American veterans have their health care needs met each year in the federal budget by replacing annually appropriated discretionary funding for veterans' health care with permanent direct spending authority.  Under the bill, annual veterans health care funding would be determined by a formula specified in law. 

Currently, the Veterans Health Administration is funded by “discretionary” spending, which is subject to annual Congressional determinations regarding funding levels.  Although the bill would primarily affect funding for health care services provided by VHA, it also would result in some savings in direct spending for other government programs, primarily Medicare and Medicaid.

Supporting our Troops at Home I voted for H.R. 3222, the fiscal year 2008 Defense Appropriations Act, when it passed the House in 2007.  This important bill will provide $558.4 million more than the President requested to support military families in 2008, including new funding for childcare centers, education programs and the Family Advocacy Program, which assists military families affected by war and child or spousal abuse. 

The bill also provides $1.3 billion above the President’s request to repair barracks, and improve child care facilities and community services at military bases.  Finally, the bill includes an additional $141.9 million to bolster base security around the world to ensure better force protection and security improvements, and to safeguard schools, hospitals, and other civil facilities on military bases from possible terrorist attacks.

Members and Families of the Guard and Reserve

I voted for H.R. 3159, the Military Readiness through Stability and Predictability Deployment Policy Act, which will enhance national security and supports our troops and their families by increasing the time troops are at home between deployments to Iraq.  Specifically, H.R. 3159 would guarantee that time at home for active duty forces matches the length of their deployment, and would mandate that all National Guard and reservists be allowed three years at home following each year of deployment.