The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is dedicated to ensuring that America’s veterans get the care and services they deserve.  As Ranking Member, my priority is providing veterans with the benefits they have earned with their service to our country. 

GI Bill

The Montgomery GI Bill has allowed many of our military servicemen and women to pursue higher education.   It is important that the GI Bill continue to provide valuable educational opportunities to those who defend our country.

I am pleased that Congress has passed a bill that significantly expands GI Bill education benefits for our servicemen and women.  The expansion will enable more veterans to graduate from college debt-free, and includes $1000 for books and supplies and a monthly housing stipend. 

I am especially pleased that this new law included a provision authored by Senator McCain (R-AZ), Senator Graham (R-SC), and myself that allows career servicemembers to transfer their unused education benefits to their spouse or children. 

I believe it is vitally important that our nation’s veterans and their families receive their earned education benefits on time, without hassle, and in an equitable manner.  

“Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day”

I recently introduced a resolution, which passed the Senate with broad bi-partisan support, honoring "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day."  Recognizing March 30 as "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day" honors the return home of our armed service members after serving in Vietnam.  The House of Representatives passed a similar resolution introduced by Representative Linda Sanchez (D-CA) on March 24, 2009.

There's no question that our troops served our country bravely and faithfully during the Vietnam War, and these veterans deserve our recognition and gratitude.  Unfortunately, when these service members returned home, they were caught in the crossfire of public debate about our nation's involvement in the Vietnam War.  As a result, these brave men and women never received the welcome reception and recognition they deserved.

The United States became involved in Vietnam because policy-makers believed that if South Vietnam fell to a communist government, communism would spread throughout the rest of Southeast Asia.  The US Armed Forces began serving in an advisory role to the South Vietnamese in 1961, and in 1965, ground combat troops were sent into Vietnam.  After many years of combat, all US troops were withdrawn from Vietnam on March 30, 1973, under the terms of the Treaty of Paris. Therefore, March 30, 2009, is an appropriate day to establish "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.”

More than 58,000 members of the United States Armed Forces lost their lives and more than 300,000 were wounded in Vietnam. The establishment of a "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day" is a small way to honor these men and women who served our country in Vietnam throughout the war.