Veterans' Affairs

Our veterans have made a great sacrifice in their service to our country. I believe they deserve the best healthcare and highest quality services that our VA can provide. I’m working hard in Congress to ensure that our veterans have the best healthcare they possibly can have. I’m doing what I can to hold the Veterans Administration accountable and ensure the VA is equipped to respond in an efficient and timely manner to the many needs of our veterans.

Since I was elected to Congress, I have been working to ensure the National Guard and Reserve troops who are serving long deployments overseas receive the education and retirement benefits they have earned.

As members of the Iowa National Guard redeploy on tours overseas, Iowans' thoughts and prayers will be with them and their loved ones.

This is the largest deployment of Iowa soldiers since World War II, affecting 2,800 Guard members and more than 30 communities in Iowa. While these brave men and women are both proud and honored to answer the call, it can be difficult and scary for families and loved ones. I am proud to represent Iowans willing to make the sacrifice and serve their country in a time of need. My office is here as a resource to any Guard members, family or Iowans affected by the redeployment before, during or after their service overseas.

For more information about family services, please visit the following websites:

Military Homefront

National Guard Family Program

Recent Action

$600,000 to first district Veterans
Expands Healthcare to Veterans in Rural Areas
- Includes Braley's "Veterans Access to Care Act"
Honors 65th Anniversary of Battle of Iwo Jima

Features

Respite Leave: Braley Fights for Soldiers' Benefits

Read: Braley Delivers Overdue Pay, Benefits for Guard Members

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Braley Visits Soldiers in Iraq

View: Photo Gallery

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2009-2010 Action on Veterans Affairs

Sponsorships:

H.R. 1222, Guaranteed Benefits for our troops act
S. 1963, Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act
- Provision to include Veterans Administration facilities in the National Health Services Corp.

Original Co-sponsor:

H.R. 1401, VET Corps Act of 2009
H.R. 2583, Women Veterans Access to Care Act

Co-sponsorships:

H.R. 208, National Guardsmen and Reservists Parity for Patriots Act
H.RES. 234, Expressing support for designation of a "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day".
H.R. 303, Retired Pay Restoration Act
H.R. 333, Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act
H.R. 707, Home Front to Heroes Postal Benefits Act

H.R. 775, Military Surviving Spouses Equity Act
H.R. 816, Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act
H.R. 840, Military Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Act
H.R. 949, To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the collective bargaining rights and procedures for review of adverse actions of certain employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
H.R. 1016, Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009
H.R. 1017, Chiropractic Care to All Veterans Act (THIS HAS BECOME A LAW)
H.R. 1428, To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide wartime disability compensation for certain veterans with Parkinson's disease.
H.R. 2254, Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009
H.R. 3554, National Guard Education Equality Act
H.R. 3787, To deem certain reserve component service as active service for VA laws
H.R. 4947, Reserve Retirement Deploymen Correction Act