Providing for our Veterans

House Democrats

President Bush/House Republicans

Improve Veterans Health Care

Yes . The Democratic Congress passed legislation last year which provides almost $40 billion for the VA, an increase of close to $4 billion from last year. All told, we have increased veterans' health care and benefits by $5.2 billion in 2007, which means improved care and shorter lines for veterans waiting to receive their benefits.

Democrats are not new to this. Last year Democrats adopted a budget which provided $8.6 billion more over the next five years for veterans' health care than the GOP budget. In 2003, Democrats fought to provide $10 billion over 10 years in veterans' health care – which resulted in a $1.1 billion increase for VA. In 2005, Democrats called for an additional $3 billion over the President's budget and forced the Bush Administration to acknowledge that it had failed to budget for returning veterans. In 2006, Democrats sought to add $630 million for urgently needed health care for troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan (Iraq Supplemental spending bill), but Republicans used parliamentary maneuvers to block it.

NO. Democrats provided $1.8 for health care to address the needs of our veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and to address the maintenance backlog at VA health facilities, money that the administration did not even request.

The last Republican budget shortchanged VA health care by at least $6 billion over five years. Just before the Iraq War, the Bush Administration took action that has prevented 1 million new veterans from enrolling in VA medical care and denied health care to 273,000 veterans. Just as the War began, Republicans voted to cut veterans' health care by $14 billion over 10 years. In 2005, Republicans were forced to acknowledge that funding for veterans' health was about $3 billion short, as Democrats had been pointing out for years.

Increase VA Funding

Yes. Congress adopted a budget resolution in May of 2007 which provides for the largest veterans' budget increase in history.

Congress delivered on the promises made in the budget resolution. The 2008 VA appropriations bill increased the VA budget by $6.7 billion over last year's level, the largest increase in the 77-year history of the VA.

No . The Democratic budget invests $32 million more than the President's budget. In addition, our budget provided $6.7 billion more than last year's Republican budget and $3.8 billion more than the President requested.

Block Increases in Health Care Fees for Veterans & Military Retirees

YES. This year's Democratic budget rejects the President's plan to charge 1 million veterans new fees and drug co-payments.

Again, Democrats are not new to this. Last year's Democratic budget blocked fees on veterans making as little as $27,000 for the past four years and we fiercely opposed the President's proposal to increase TRICARE fees on 4 million military retirees and their families and Republican increases in TRICARE prescription drug co-payments at pharmacies.

NO. As he has done for the last 5 years, the President's budget again proposed increases in the cost of veterans' health care – doubling drug co-payments and imposing new enrollment fees for certain veterans.

To add insult to injury, the President's budget last year also proposed to increase health care costs for military retirees by as much as nearly $1,000 per year. Republicans voted last year to nearly double TRICARE pharmacy co-payments.

Support Military Facilities

YES. Democrats passed legislation in 2007 which provides better barracks, housing and training facilities when troops return home from combat through an unprecedented $21.4 billion investment in military construction, family housing, and BRAC.

Democrats have long fought for this. In 2006 Democrats had a plan to pay for construction at 20 military facilities including barracks, training sites, and the other facilities to meet the needs of the military and opposed Republican effort to deny funding. In 2004, Democrats fought for new military housing for 50,000 families over the next two years.

NO. The President's budget last year did not do enough to address the need of our military facilities and he proposed spending $207 million less on BRAC than the Democrats appropriated.

In 2006, Republicans stripped $500 million in military construction projects requested by the President including barracks, training facilities, and the other needs of those military. In 2004, Republicans voted against provisions to allow much-needed military housing to go forward.

End Tax on Disabled Veterans

YES. Democrats passed a bill H.R. 1585, which addresses the inequity of the Disabled Veterans Tax.

In 2006, Democrats introduced H.R. 303 to immediately end the tax on all 560,000 disabled veterans who are military retirees. A similar effort resulted in a partial fix in 2003 of the concurrent receipt.

NOT FULLY, NOT NOW. In 2003, President Bush threatened to veto the National Defense Authorization Act over this provision. House Republicans passed legislation that left out about 400,000 disabled military retirees, and made the remaining one-third of disabled military retirees wait 10 years for full benefits.

In addition, in 2006 Republicans did not bring up H.R. 303 for a vote.

End Widows' Tax

YES. Democrats passed a bill, H.R. 1585, which addresses the inequity of the Widow's Tax.

Again, in 2006 Democrats were forced to launch a discharge petition to force the GOP leadership to allow a vote on ending the Widow's Tax.

NO. Republicans voted against it during consideration of the FY 2007 Defense Authorization bill.

As with the Disabled Veterans tax, the Republicans ignored our discharge petition and refused to allow the bill, H.R. 808, to come up for a vote.

Protect Veterans' Benefits

YES. The Democrats have passed legislation to reduce the 400,000 claim backlog by adding more than 1,100 new processors.

Democrats have been consistent on this. In 2006, Democrats defeated Republican-passed budget cuts in veterans' benefits, and were working to improve disability claims process. Democrats fought in 2005 against Republican proposed staffing cuts that would have reduced critically needed VA claims processing employees and delayed awards of earned service-connected benefits.

NO. In addition to providing more money to address the claims backlog than the President's budget, Democrats also provided $500 million more than the President for VA health care facilities.

Republicans have a poor record in this area. A majority of House Republicans voted to cut veterans benefits by $22 billion and to cut benefits for military retirees and disabled veterans by $28 billion in 2004 (Kirk amendment). In 2003, House Republicans voted for $14 billion in cuts to veterans' pension, compensation, education and other benefits over 10 years.

Mental Health Care for Veterans

YES. Democrats passed legislation that provides more funding for mental health, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

Democrats have been consistently fighting for this. In 2006, Democrats introduced a bill, H.R. 1588, which I was proud to co-sponsor, which would have improved mental health support for returning soldiers through enhanced education and outreach, improved screening, and effective treatment and counseling for veterans and family members. In 2005, Democrats offered an amendment to expand veterans' health care and mental health care to meet the needs of returning soldiers. (DeLauro- Hooley)

NO. Democrats provided $600 million more than the President's budget for PTSD and TBI.

In 2006 Republicans failed to hold hearings on H.R. 1588 and blocked consideration of Democratic amendments to improve mental health services for returning service members and veterans, and even rejected a scaled-back version.

TRICARE Health Care for Reservists

YES. Democrats passed a bill last year, H.R. 1585, which prohibits fee increases in TRICARE and its pharmacy program for service members and retirees.

Democrats have been fighting for TRICARE for National Guard and Reserves since 2003. Democrats have succeeded in expanding TRICARE to Reserves without health care (because they are unemployed or uninsured), providing one year of TRICARE benefits for every 90 days of service, after being called up. This fight has resulted in the 2006 House-passed Defense bill finally including TRICARE for reservists.

NO. The President's budget last year proposed to charge some former military personnel higher fees under the TRICARE health plan and to impose "efficiency savings" in military health services

In addition, Republicans have a poor track record in this area. In 2005, Republicans voted against TRICARE for Reserves. In 2003, Secretary Rumsfeld recommended that the President would veto the defense bill if TRICARE for Reserve forces was included.

Better Force Protection for Our Troops

YES. Democrats passed legislation last year which provides an overall increase of 13 percent for home-station training and outfits a new Stryker Brigade to support the Army's transformation to a more rapidly deployable force.

Democrats have repeatedly pointed out equipment shortages affecting our troops in Iraq – particularly equipment needed to save their lives, such as up-armored Humvees, body armor, and IED jammers – over the past three years. In 2006, Democrats succeeded with an amendment requiring that all military vehicles used in Iraq and Afghanistan be equipped with IED jammers by the end of FY 2007. Fought to shift $3.6 billion from Iraqi reconstruction to support and safety for our troops, including funds for repairing and replacing the critical equipment for combat in Iraq in 2003.

NO. The Democratic bill was $39.7 billion over the 2006 level and provided more resources for force protection and troop welfare than previous Republican bills.

Republicans have been shortchanging troop welfare in recent years. Republicans voted to cut $4 billion in the defense spending last December. The President's budget last year failed to include $21 billion in requested military needs – the largest amount denied since 9/11.

Reduce Strain on our Troops

YES. Democrats have passed legislation to build up the National Guard and Reserve who have been strained by our military involvement in Iraq .

Democrats have long complained about the strain Iraq is placing on our National Guard and Reserves. The 2006 Democratic budget rejected the President's plan to fund fewer National Guard and Reserves.

NO. Democrats passed a bill which provides $925 million, $635 million more than Republicans provided last year, to address equipment shortfalls of the National Guard and Reserve.

Republicans have been indifferent to the plight of our National Guard and Reserves. The President's 2006 budget proposed funding 17,100 fewer Army National Guard and 5,000 fewer Army Reserves than were authorized by law.

Pay Increase for Soldiers

YES. Democrats passed legislation which gives troops a pay raise of 3.5%.

Democrats have long fought for pay increases for our strapped troops. In 2003, we succeeded in getting a one-year extension of imminent danger and family separation pay for our troops. Democratic efforts to make these pay increases permanent succeeded in the DOD bill in 2004.

NO. The Democratic passed bill provides a 0.5 percent more increase than the President's budget for a pay raise for the troops. In addition, our bill provides special pay and bonuses to combat troops, which the Administration opposes and has called “unnecessary”

Republicans have been less than generous with our troops. Even, in 2003 after the Iraq war started, the Bush Administration opposed the continued increase for imminent danger and family separation pay. Later, it reversed itself due to widespread opposition.

Assist Veterans with Return To Civilian Life

YES. Democrats have introduced a bill, H.R. 2385, the 21st Century GI Bill of Rights Act of 2007, which provide and enhance education, housing, and entrepreneur assistance for veterans who serve in the Armed Forces after September 11, 2001.

NO. Democrats introduced similar legislation in the previous Republican-controlled Congress and it did not even receive a hearing.

New GI Education Bill

YES. Democrats passed legislation that restores a full, four-year college education for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans – on a par with the educational benefits available after World War II – for service members who have served three years on active duty, including National Guard and Reserve.

NO. President Bush and the vast majority of Republicans in the House opposed the recently-passed Democratic measure.