As we honor the memory of the 4,400 Americans who have died in Iraq and the more than 1,000  who have died in Afghanistan we also need to keep our commitment to our nation's 3 million troops and reservists, their families, and 23 million veterans.  On the battle field the military pledges to leave no solider behind.  As a grateful nation, it should be our priority to ensure that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind.  I am proud to say we have lived up to that promise by doing more for our soldiers and returning veterans than any other Congress in history.

Need Help With the VA?

My office can serve as a primary resource for returning veterans.  If you have questions about federal benefits, or are experiencing trouble receiving them please contact my Utica, NY Office at 315-793-8146 or click here for information on how to submit constituent casework to our office.

Soon after taking office in 2007, I established a Veterans Advisory Committee to assist me in pursuing the best possible policy for our nation's veterans and serve my liaisons to all veterans in the local community.  Read More

Providing an Education

In 2008, Congress enacted the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which restored the promise of a full, four year college education, allowing more than 2 million veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan to be part of a new American economic recovery, just like after World War II.   Earlier this year, we have rightfully extended those crucial college benefits to all children of fallen service members since 9/11.

Recently, I cosponsored the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act (H.R. 5933), which provides more resources and opportunity to veterans who were previously excluded from GI Bill benefits.  This legislation expands benefits to include vocational schools, apprenticeships and on-the-job training and grants full GI Bill credit to National Guardsmen who have responded to national disasters.  Additionally, it expands and simplifies the Yellow Ribbon Program for veterans who choose to attend private, graduate or out-of-state schools, while providing all student veterans with a 30% increase in the monthly living allowance.

For more information, call toll free 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551) to speak with a Veterans Benefits Counselor, OR visit: www.gibill.va.gov/

Providing Benefits They Have Earned

Many of our troops have served multiple tours of duty, with great strain on their families and substantial cost to their financial futures.  In response, I helped pass legislation that provides a special $500 payment for every month the 185,000 service members and veterans were forced to serve under stop-loss orders, retroactive to 2001.  Additionally, it also gives our service members a 3.4% pay raise, funds the construction of nine wounded warrior support complexes and 25 child care centers, and includes an additional $1.8 billion for defense health and programs to support military families.

I have also introduced legislation that would automatically enroll returning veterans into the VA Medical System so they can get back to their lives and spend time with their loved ones, not filling out paperwork just to access their benefits. Read More

This Congress has also taken significant steps towards ending the Disabled Veterans Tax for all medically retired service members.  This tax unjustly forces disabled military retirees to give up one dollar of their pension for every dollar of disability pay.   Many of the veterans who fall into this category were so severely injured during their service that they had to retire and they deserve full retirement and disability benefits.   I have also cosponsored the Retired Pay Restoration Act (H.R. 303), which would permit retirees who are rated as less than 50% disabled to receive both their VA disability and their earned military pay, eliminating the phase-in period under current law.

Providing High-Quality Medical Care

Since 2007, I have supported legislation that has provided a 70% increase in funding for veterans' health care and benefits-including the single largest increase in the 78-year history of the VA.  This funding has strengthened health care and reduced the case backlog at the VA for more than 5 million veterans, resulting in over 10,000 new claims processors, 3,389 new doctors and 14,316 new nurses, 145 new community-based vet outpatient clinics and 92 new vet centers.

It has been a priority of mine to ensure our local VA health facilities have ever y resource available to offer the highest quality care to our returning veterans.  This also included $1 million specifically for improvements to the Donald J. Mitchell VA Outpatient Clinic in Rome, NY.

Earlier this year, I voted for, and the President signed into law, the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act, which greatly improves health care services for our 1.8 million women veterans, provides greater access to veterans in rural areas.   And the first time, it provides help to family members and other caregivers of disabled, ill or injured veterans, such as training, counseling, and respite care, and eliminates copayments for catastrophically disabled veterans.

Additionally, as a result of pressure from my colleagues and me, the VA has amended its rules making it easier for Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange and other chemicals and Iraq and Afghanistan veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to access care and the claims process.