There is no greater sacrifice than putting your life on the line for your country. In America, the men and women of our Armed Forces represent the very best our nation has to offer. And while we hold our veterans in the highest regard and thank them for their service, we must remain vigilant in guaranteeing that the care and benefits they receive reflects the gratitude and respect they deserve.
Today, as America faces new enemies with more sophisticated weapons, we in Congress face new challenges as to how best to provide the proper care for a new generation of veterans. Sadly, 21st century warfare has resulted in devastating injuries. To address these challenges, I strive to make certain that our veterans have access to the best professional medical care. I was proud to be one of the original co-sponsors of The Kyle Barthel Veterans and Service Members Mental Health Screening Act. This legislation requires the Secretary of Defense to adopt a program of professional and confidential screenings for active armed forces members to detect mental health conditions for the purpose of reducing the incidence of suicide among such members and veterans, and to detect traumatic brain injuries.
The commitment to our veterans must also extend beyond simply providing medical care for injuries endured in battle. We must also make every effort to prepare these individuals for life after the military. That is why I have pushed to offer our returning military personnel opportunities to further their education through the Post 9/11 GI Bill. This historic legislation was designed to provide educational benefits to service members—including Reservists and National Guard personnel—who have served 90 or more days of active duty after September 10, 2001. In support of this goal, I introduced The Post-9/11 G.I. Education Fairness Act of 2009, which would expand the types of approved education programs to include apprenticeships and other vocational training, and helped introduce The GI Bill Accelerated Tuition Payment Act, which would ensure veterans are not denied the ability to attend school due to delayed tuition payments.
As Congress continues to work to rebuild our economy, I have also focused my attention on the important role veterans play in our economic recovery. To achieve this goal, I successfully introduced an amendment to The Job Creation Through Entrepreneurship Act that would expand grant programs designed to provide veterans with entrepreneurial training and counseling services they need to start their own businesses. I also co-sponsored The Help Veterans Own Franchises Act, which would encourage the creation of veteran owned businesses by providing tax incentives to franchisors and qualified veteran franchisees.
As your Congressman, it is an honor to serve those who have served our nation. It is a solemn responsibility that I take very seriously. I will continue to work to ensure that our veterans are provided with the care and benefits they deserve.
