As an elected member of Congress, I am proud to serve our military men and women and their families from the installations here in NY along with our VA institutions, and numerous government contractors.

I take deep pride in addressing issues like implementing reasonable time at home with families in between deployments (S Amdt 2909), rewarding our GWOT veterans with the post 9-11 GI Bill (HR 2642), providing voter registration materials and assistance to each and every member of the U.S. armed services, as well as their family members, and spearheading initiatives for a Military Families Affordable Homes Act.

I have the honor of representing 988,217 veterans in New York and issues affecting our veterans are very important to me. As your representative, I will continue to look for ways to ensure that those who have served our country are treated with the respect and gratitude that they have earned and rightfully deserve.

The 111th Congress is working hard keep our military strong, to strengthen our national security, and to secure American troops serving around the world and here on US soil.

Strengthening Benefits for Troops and Families

S.1160 : A bill to provide housing assistance for very low-income veterans.

S.1415 : A bill to amend the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act to ensure that absent uniformed services voters and overseas voters are aware of their voting rights and have a genuine opportunity to register to vote and have their absentee ballots cast and counted, and for other purposes.

S.1452 : A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the meaning of "combat with the enemy" for purposes of service-connection of disabilities.

S.2827 : A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to expand the military housing allowance exclusion for purposes of determining area gross income in determining whether a residential rental property for purposes of the exempt facility bond rules.

S.1347 : A bill to amend chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, to allow members of the Armed Forces to sue the United States for damages for certain injuries caused by improper medical care, and for other purposes.

Strengthening and Rewarding the American Military

S.RES.331 : A resolution congratulating the United States Military Academy at West Point on being named by Forbes magazine as America's Best College for 2009.

S.RES.235 : A resolution designating August 16, 2009, as "National Airborne Day".

In addition, I have cosponsored the following bills that will help our military, veterans, and their families:

S.423 : A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize advance appropriations for certain medical care accounts of the Department of Veterans Affairs by providing two-fiscal year budget authority, and for other purposes.

S.543 : A bill to require a pilot program on training, certification, and support for family caregivers of seriously disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces to provide caregiver services to such veterans and members, and for other purposes.

S.546 : A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to permit certain retired members of the uniformed services who have a service-connected disability to receive both disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability and either retired pay by reason of their years of military service or Combat-Related Special Compensation.

S.597 : A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to expand and improve health care services available to women veterans, especially those serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

S.614 : A bill to award a Congressional Gold Medal to the Women Airforce Service Pilots ("WASP").

S.663 : A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct 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.

S.772 : A bill to enhance benefits for survivors of certain former members of the Armed Forces with a history of post-traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury, to enhance availability and access to mental health counseling for members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and for other purposes.

My staff and I are concerned with the well-being of our nation's veterans and will assist you with any difficulty you are experiencing with the VA. If you require assistance with a VA claim, please provide a detailed, signed letter, attached to my privacy release form and forward it to my New York City office.

757 Third Avenue
suite 17-02
New York, NY 10017
Attn: Veterans Caseworker

Please note that the rules of the Senate Ethics Committee prohibit United States Senators from becoming involved in the judicial process. If you are having legal problems, you may wish to contact an attorney for assistance