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Veterans
We owe a debt of gratitude to all those who served in America’s Armed Forces. The men and women who fought to defend our freedom have earned a place of honor, and they deserve to see their Members of Congress working across the aisle to deliver on the promises we have made. Just as we must ensure our men and women have everything they need to complete their mission, we also must provide the care and benefits they have earned when they come home.
As a veteran myself, with a strong military tradition in my family, I understand the importance of this promise and will work to see it fulfilled in Congress. I am pleased that the VA recently saw the largest funding increase for veterans’ health care in its 77-year history, and that veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan now benefit from an improved 21st century GI Bill that builds upon the successful program put into place after World War II. In addition, I have introduced legislation that would remove Congress’s exemption from the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act to eliminate gaps in laws that help create jobs for our veterans.
In my first year in office, I have been proud to cosponsor legislation that aims to improve the quality of life for our veterans, including:
- H.R. 667: the Heroes at Home Act of 2009, a bill to establish a program on training and certification of family caregivers of veterans and members with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and conduct outreach to enhance awareness of veterans and the public about the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and TBI, as well as the services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans with such symptoms.
- H.R. 953: the Veterans Travel Tax Relief Act of 2009, a bill to allow veterans a deduction from gross income for their travel expenses, including those of a family member, to a Department of Veterans Affairs medical center for treatment related to a service-connected disability or for an examination related to a claim for disability compensation or a pension.
- H.R. 2254: the Agent Orange Equity Act of 2009, a bill to improve access to benefits for veterans exposed to Agent Orange.
- H.R. 3341: a bill directing the Secretary of the VA to automatically enroll returning members of the Armed Forces in the VA medical system upon discharge or separation from duty, for the purpose of reducing delays in service.
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