On the battlefield, we pledge to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, it should be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind, and that includes making sure our veterans have access to health care and other benefits promised them when they joined the armed forces.

While the Veterans Administration hospital system is one of the leading medical research networks in the United States, it is not perfect.  Too often, the VA does more with less.  Congress took an important first step last year by making sure the VA had the resources it needs to meet its mission to our veterans, but there is more work to do.

When our soldiers return from service abroad, they now have the confidence that they can afford the education they need to improve their lives and advance their careers. Congress made an important new commitment to the education of our veterans with the passage of the Post 9/11 GI Bill.  It is the most comprehensive advancement in veteran services since World War II. The legislation provides more educational opportunities for our veterans, and in turn, strengthens our economy.

While the economy continues to be tough for all Americans, it seems that young veterans are among the hardest hit. Due to their military service, many times these veterans feel disconnected from the civilian workforce, and do not have contacts that many civilians rely upon in a tough economy. We need to target our outreach to younger veterans because many enter the workforce at a disadvantage.

No matter what conflict they served in, our military members put their lives on the line to protect ours here at home. They fought for us. Now we must fight for them.

Beginning August 1, 2009 veterans started receiving college education benefits under the new GI Bill for the 21st Century. Congress passed the Post-9/11 GI Bill to restore the promise of a full, four-year college education for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, making them part of the economic recovery. That May 1st, veterans were able to start applying for a certificate of eligibility for the new college benefits. Veterans can continue to apply for those benefits by clicking HERE. 

Congressman John Boccieri and Veterans

The following laws came as a result of hard work in the 111^th Congress on behalf of veterans:

(1) Public Law 111-5: The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act- Congressional approval of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was the first major step in rebuilding our country's economy, while also honoring our veterans. It provides a $1.4 billion increase for the Department of Veterans Affairs for maintenance of VA medical facilities, construction of veterans' extended care facilities, and veteran cemetery repairs. The Recovery Package also includes funding for individual $250 payments for disabled veterans.

(2) Post 9/11 G.I. Bill: Under the Post 9/11 G.I. Bill, members of the military who have served on active duty since September 11, 2001, including activated reservists and members of the National Guard, are eligible to receive up to four academic years of education benefits, including stipends for housing and books. Veterans have up to 15 years after they leave active duty to use their education benefits. The percentage of tuition and other costs paid for by the Post-9/11 GI Bill is based on the veterans' length of service, and is based on a sliding scale

(3) Public Law 111-32: Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009-Expands the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill to cover the full cost of college for surviving military children by creating the "Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry" scholarship to provide education benefits to children of deceased active duty service members.

(4) Public Law 111-81: Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009- Authorizes Congress to approve Department of Veterans Affairs medical care appropriations one year in advance of the start of each fiscal year.  This will provide the VA with sufficient time to plan how to deliver the most efficient and effective care to an increasing number of veterans with increasingly complex medical conditions.

The following are veteran-related bills, including those I personally sponsored or co-sponsored. These bills await final approval by the House of Representative and the Senate.

Bills Related to Veteran Benefits (including Health Care and Education)

CO-SPONSORED-H R 1335: Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled.

CO-SPONSORED -H R 333: Permits retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment of both retired pay and veterans' disability compensation.  This bill also eliminates the phase-in period for concurrent receipt and extends eligibility for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees with less than 20 years of service, and for other purposes. 

CO-SPONSORED -H R 775: Removes the requirement for reduction of survivor income under the Survivor Benefit Plan to offset the receipt of veteran's dependency and insurance. 

CO-SPONSORED -H R 2243: Provides for an increase in the amount of monthly dependency and indemnity compensation payable to surviving spouses by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

CO-SPONSORED -H R 3219: Expands options for veterans and service members to obtain life insurance policies that better fit their needs and the needs of their families.  This bill also improves health services for veterans by increasing participation of physician assistants at the Veterans Health Administration, prohibits the collection of copayments for certain veterans who are catastrophically disabled, establishes a ‘Committee on Care of Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury,' waives housing loan fees for some disabled veterans, expands nursing home care for certain veterans, and allows Medal of Honor recipients to receive a priority status for medical services.
 

CO-SPONSORED -H R 2254: Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009:  Clarifies presumptions relating to the exposure of certain veterans who served in the vicinity of the Republic of Vietnam.

CO-SPONSORED -H R 23: Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) during World War II. 

H R 1211: Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act- Expands and improves the Department of Veterans Affairs health care services for the 1.8 million women who have bravely served their county.  It calls for a study of the barriers facing women veterans seeking health care, assessment of women's health care programs, medical care for newborn children of women veterans, enhancement of VA sexual trauma programs, enhancement of PTSD treatment for women, establishment of a pilot program for child care services, and the addition of recently separated women veterans to serve on advisory committees.

H R 3082: Making Appropriations for Military Construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2010, and for Other Purposes- This is the largest veterans funding increase ever requested by a President.  It provides a path to restoring and revitalizing the services provided to veterans by adding $14.5 billion above fiscal year 2009 (July 10, 2009).  It also provides appropriations for fiscal year 2010 -- and advance appropriations for 2011.

S 407: Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009- Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase payments to veterans and their dependents for disability and indemnity compensation by the same cost-of-living adjustment used for Social Security recipients.

H R 2990: Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act- Provides a one-year fix for the disabled veterans' tax for disabled military retirees with less than 20 years of service. Under the bill, these service members who have been retired for severe disability could receive both their military retirement and VA disability pay.  Many of these service members were on track to serve a full military career but were blocked from serving 20 years because of their disabilities.

H R 952:  Combat PTSD Act - Reduces the need for veterans to meet the current stringent level of evidence for PTSD by clarifying the meaning of "combat with the enemy" for purposes of service-connection of disabilities.

H R 1293:  Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009-Provides an increase in the amount of funds available to veterans with service-connected disabilities for improvements and structural alterations.

H R 1171: Preventing and Ending Veteran Homelessness-Requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide comprehensive services to prevent veteran homelessness.  It reauthorizes the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program through 2014 which provides grants for job training, counseling, placement services and child care and includes an additional $10 million to provide dedicated services for homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children.

H R 2058:  Post-Deployment Health Assessment Act of 2009 - Requires mental health screenings for members of the Armed Forces who are deployed in connection with a contingency operation.

Bills Related to Veterans Employment

SPONSORED-H.AMDT.141 to H R 2352: Allows veterans centers to receive grants to develop specialized programs to assist unemployed veterans in becoming entrepreneurs.  This amendment also adds training for veterans centers to improve outreach to veterans in areas of high unemployment at the Veterans Development Summit. 

CO-SPONSORED -H R 1474: Would close critical loopholes for members of the National Guard and Reserve who are unfairly discriminated against by employers.

H R 3943:  Post 9/11 Troops to Teachers Enhancement Act - Allows members of the Armed Forces who served on active duty on or after September 11, 2001, to be eligible to participate in the Troops-to-Teachers Program.

H R 1089: Veterans Employment Rights Realignment Act-Grants the Office of Special Counsel jurisdiction in enforcing employment rights of veterans and members of the armed forces employed by federal executive agencies. This bill also allows individuals to file complaints with the special counsel.

Bills Related to Veterans Administration System Accountability

CO-SPONSORED -H R 1872:  Requires the Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, to develop and implement a secure electronic method of forwarding the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214) to the appropriate office of the Department of Veterans Affairs for the State or other locality in which a member of the Armed Forces will first reside after the discharge or release of the member from active duty. 

CO-SPONSORED -H R 3441: Provides automatic enrollment of veterans returning from combat zones into the Department of Veterans Affairs medical system, and other purposes. 

CO-SPONSORED -H R 3522: Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide grants and assistance to States to conduct outreach to veterans regarding hardship and priority under the Department of Veterans Affairs patient enrollment system. 

H R 2647: National Defense Authorization Act-Includes five important provisions to improve care and services for America's veterans:  First, the bill requires a report itemizing the current research and treatment efforts for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), in order to reduce duplicative efforts and promote collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Health and Human Services.  Second, the bill calls for the development and implementation of a secure and electronic method for forwarding discharge and separation documents to state VA offices.  Third, a progress report on the Joint Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record is required by December 2010.  Fourth, the bill allows a one-year expansion for concurrent receipt of veterans' disability compensation.  Finally, the bill would amend the Family and Medical Leave Act to provide better protections for injured veterans.

Bills Related to Veterans and Business

CO-SPONSORED -H R 2672: Amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, allowing credits for the establishment of franchises with veterans.

H R 3949:  Veterans' Small Business Assistance and Servicemembers Protection Act of 2009 - Addresses reintegration challenges for veterans and provides enhanced protections for veteran-owned small business, deployed service members, and family members of veterans.

H R 2965: Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act- Reauthorizes the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs through fiscal year 2011. The bill would give preference in awarding grants under the programs to businesses owned by service-disabled veterans, women or minorities, or that are located in rural areas. It would increase the maximum grants for the initial stage of research and technology transfer projects to $250,000, and to $2 million for the second stage of such projects.

Bills Related to Veterans and Education

H R 1037: Pilot College Work Study Programs for Veterans Act-Authorizes $10 million per year in fiscal years 2010-14 for the Department of Veterans Affairs to conduct a five-year pilot project to test the feasibility and advisability of expanding work-study activities for veterans.

H R 2770:  Veterans Nonprofit Research and Education Corporations Enhancement Act of 2009-Updates laws relating to nonprofit research and education corporations so they can better support VA's research mission.

H R 1172: Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include on the internet website of the Department of Veterans Affairs a list of organizations that provide scholarships to veterans and their survivors.  This bill will require the VA to post a list of organizations providing scholarships to veterans and their survivors on the department's Web site by June 1, 2010.

Bills Related to Veterans Recognition

CO-SPONSORED -H R 1209: Requires the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in recognition and celebration of the establishment of the Medal of Honor in 1861, America's highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States, to honor the American military men and women who have been recipients of the Medal of Honor, and to promote awareness of what the Medal of Honor represents and how ordinary Americans, through courage, sacrifice, selfless service and patriotism, can challenge fate and change the course of history. 

CO-SPONSORED -H R 2632: Encourages the display of the United States flag on National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day.

HR RES 47: Expressing sympathy to the victims, families, and friends of the tragic act of violence at the combat stress clinic at Camp Liberty, Iraq, on May 11, 2009.

Bills Related to Veterans Housing

H R 403: Homes for Heroes Act of 2009- Authorizes $200 million for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to assist private nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives in expanding the supply of permanent housing and support services for veterans' families with incomes of less than 50 percent of the median income for their area of residence. It would require HUD to provide at least 20,000 housing rental vouchers to qualifying veterans' families.

H R 1170: Grant Program for Specially Adapted Housing -Provides grants to encourage the development of new assistive technologies for specially adapted housing for disabled veterans, allocating grant amounts up to $200,000 annually per recipient.

Bills Related to Veterans and Family Support

H R 3155: Support for Veteran Caregivers-Responds to the needs of veteran caregivers by establishing a caregiver program for veterans seriously wounded while on active duty.  It provides support services to family and non-family caregivers of veterans, provides educational sessions on how to be a better caregiver, increases information and outreach efforts, and would also make counseling and mental health services available to family and non-family caregivers of veterans.