Veterans

Southern Indiana is home to about 55,000 veterans, and it is my distinct honor and privilege to represent each and every one in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

I believe that the brave men and women in uniform who have volunteered to defend our nation not only deserve our utmost thanks and respect, but the benefits they were promised and have certainly earned.  Unfortunately, a negative trend developed with regards to veterans’ benefits.  Our courageous veterans are promised one thing and far too often receive benefits short of those promises.  I, along with my colleagues in Congress, am committed to changing this inexcusable trend.

I am working to pass legislation that will help provide our troops and veterans with the tools they need to succeed both in the field, and when they return home.  This Congress, I have supported measures to: 

• Increase the base pay of all military personnel.  The Department of Defense Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2010 included a 3.4 percent pay raise to our service personnel.    
• Provide funding for procurement of equipment our troops need in Iraq and Afghanistan – including body armor, Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and advanced communications equipment to keep our men and women safe while serving in harm’s way.  
• Increase funding for programs to assist military families.  These may include childcare centers, education programs, and family advocacy programs that provide aid to families affected by the demands of war and extended deployments. 
• Guarantee advanced funding for Veterans Administration health services for the next two fiscal years so that veterans’ health care can be better provided. 
• Ban increases to TRICARE fees and premiums.  Those who defend our nation should not bear the burden of increased healthcare costs. 
• Increase funding for rural veterans health care programs and for more Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs).
• Enact additional funding to hire more Veterans Administration claims processors to reduce the backlog of benefits claims and the time to process new claims. 
• Enhance support to family members and caregivers who look after our injured veterans.  The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act provides for counseling and mental health services, respite care for family and other caregivers of veterans, and health care and a stipend for caregivers living with severely-wounded veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.  

Closer to home, I introduced, and continue to push for passage of, the Health Care for Members of the Armed Forces Exposed to Chemical Hazards Act, H.R. 2389.  As you may know, this bill stems from the unfortunate accounts of several Indiana Guardsmen who returned from Iraq with serious health issues – problems that likely could have been avoided. 

In 2003, members of the Indiana, Oregon, West Virginia and South Carolina National Guard were exposed to the highly-toxic chemical Sodium Dichromate while guarding a water treatment plant in Iraq.  Many of these soldiers have developed serious, and similar, health conditions.  However, linking such health problems to their service in Iraq has rendered difficult and frustrating.

To that end, H.R. 2389 would establish a registry of members and former members of the armed forces exposed in the line of duty to chemical hazards, and make such applicable veterans eligible for a series of medical examinations and laboratory tests.  Similar to the Agent Orange registry, the bill would also authorize the Department of Defense to contract with the Institute of Medicine to conduct a scientific review of the evidence linking certain health consequences to exposure.  And, it would elevate veterans’ status for health care at VA facilities by recognizing a veteran’s own report of exposure and inclusion on the registry as sufficient proof to receive medical care. 

Recently we took a significant step forward on this bill, legislatively.  The committee report associated with the Fiscal Year 2011 National Defense Authorization Act includes language regarding my bill.  The report, which is legally binding, directs the Secretary of Defense to provide a review on the feasibility of establishing an active registry for each incidence of exposure of occupational and environmental chemical hazards during conflicts to monitor possible health risks and provide necessary treatment to those exposed.  The report will discuss processes in which service members exposed to toxic chemicals could be included on the registry, and procedures to provide medical examinations to service members who are eligible to be included on the registry.  While this may sound complex, it’s good news and means we are much closer to both securing recourse for our Guardsmen exposed to chemical pollutants and preventing this from happening again. 

In addition, assisting veterans locally in resolving issues with government agencies is one of the most important parts of my job.  I'm proud to report that during my time as your representative, my staff and I have helped thousands of Hoosier veterans secure benefits and address casework issues. 

We owe our soldiers and veterans the very best we have to offer.  I will never allow our troops to go into battle to defend our freedom without the proper equipment and training necessary to achieve victory and come home safely.  Likewise, I will not allow our troops to receive substandard care and unfulfilled benefits upon returning home.  These men and women, and their families, deserve to be well taken care of.  Their sacrifice for our nation is truly awe-inspiring.  I am honored to be able to serve those who are on the frontlines of freedom.