Veterans

Veterans have kept their promise to serve our nation, and we must keep our promises to our veterans. The men and women who risk their lives for us must not be given first-class weapons in war only to be treated as third-class citizens when they return home from battle.

With my support, the House passed legislation to improve veteran’s job retraining programs (H.R. 1168), protect veteran’s employment rights (H.R. 1089), and improve veteran’s healthcare delivery, particularly for women (H.R. 1211, H.R. 1377, H.R. 3155). In addition, I co-sponsor the Heroes at Home Act of 2009 and voted for H.R. 3219, to ensure that veterans are able to plan appropriately for their financial security and have the best and most affordable options available.

As a representative in Congress I am proud to have a long history of veterans’ advocacy. I supported additional benefits for veterans in the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 and have worked to assist veterans seeking retroactive stop loss pay and emergency payments for VA Educational Benefits. While a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I used my position to ensure that veterans and our troops received adequate support, including a pay raise in excess of the President’s request, and improved care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Though we have done much to recognize the sacrifice of our veterans, I know more must be done to provide veterans with the support they deserve. The Veterans Administration must improve healthcare delivery, better administer educational benefits and more efficiently and effectively treat veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

My colleagues and I, under Democratic Leadership, have worked to ensure that veterans receive the resources they need and the care that they deserve. I will work to ensure that the Congress provides our Veterans with the resources, support and honor that they have earned.

Healthcare
With its facility in Baltimore, and throughout the state of Maryland, the VA saw over 50,000 veterans in just 2007 alone. These services are vital and must be improved to not only function more efficiently and effectively, but provide better coverage to the veterans of today.

In FY 2007, I voted for a record increase in the VA budget – above the President’s request – and I support the Obama Administration’s plan to add $10 Billion to the budget, or 10%, in FY 2011.
As we all know, resources alone will not ensure first-rate operations and that is why I have supported efforts in this Congress to make health care delivery better and more responsive to the needs of veterans. H.R. 1377, which I supported, and which President Obama signed into law, requires the VA to provide emergency care payments to qualifying veterans in need.

With an increasing number of women veterans, the VA must better understand and address the needs of the women under their care. It is to address these needs that I voted for H.R. 1211 which, if signed into law, will require the VA to study and implement improvements in its healthcare delivery system for women veterans.

The VA healthcare system is a vital part of our veterans’ lives and the greater Maryland community. I will continue to support VA with the resources and policies necessary to ensure that all of our veterans receive the care that they deserve.

Healthcare Resources for Veterans:
VA Maryland Health Care System
Baltimore VA Medical Center
Veteran's Healthcare Resources

The New GI Bill
Our veterans have served our country with heroism and distinction, and we must honor their sacrifice as they transition back into civilian life. For this reason I voted for the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2009, also known as the New GI Bill, and it was later signed into law.

This bill provides our veterans with the ability to attend the college or university of their choice, and permits them to transfer benefits to family members in need. While I strongly support the benefits, I have been disappointed with VA’s difficulties in implementing the program.

Notwithstanding a slow start, I am pleased that not only are resources available for those struggling to receive payments, but that processing seems to be improving. Below are resources for veterans who need help with emergency payments while awaiting VA Educational Benefits and additional resources for those seeking to claim the benefits they have earned.

Post 9/11 GI Bill Resources:
Resources for Emergency Payments
Post 9/11 GI Bill Official Site
Eligibility Determination Tool
Checklist for Students
Family Member Benefit Transfer

Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay
The Defense Department provides Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay to service members who had their enlistment extended or retirement suspended due to Stop Loss between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009. Eligible personnel receive a payment of $500 per month for each month (or any portion of a month) that the member was retained on active duty due to Stop Loss.

Service members, including members of the Reserve components, former and retired members, are eligible if they served on active duty between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009, while their enlistment was extended, or whose retirement was suspended due to Stop Loss. Service members who were discharged or released from the Armed Forces under other than honorable conditions are not permitted to receive Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay.

In accordance with the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act, all applications must be submitted to the respective services no later than Oct. 21, 2010. Service members must provide documented proof they were Stop Lossed with their claim. Family members of deceased service members should contact the appropriate military service for assistance in filing their claim.

The payments will only be taxed for the period that was not served in a combat zone. For example: If a member was Stop Loss for 7 months and 5 of those months were served in a combat zone, then only 2 months of the pay will be taxed.

Additional information can be found on the web sites below.
Army: https://www.stoplosspay.army.mil
Navy: send email to – NXAG_N132C@navy.mil
Marine Corps: https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/stoploss
Air Force: http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/stoploss

TBI/PTSD

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are real concerns for many veterans today. According to the Congressional Research Service, as many as 20% of returning veterans suffer from TBI. According to RAND, up to 20% of veterans suffer from PTSD. Not only do these injuries directly affect our veterans, they also contribute to the broken marriages, mental illnesses and suicides that plague our veterans today.

Through my position on the House Armed Services Committee, I led efforts to address these issues via my amendments to the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act and I have continued to support veterans with legislation and votes. In this Congress, I supported the Veterans’ Insurance and Health Care Improvements Act of 2009 on the House floor and have co-sponsored the Heroes at Home Act of 2009. If these measures are signed into law, they will require the VA to constantly monitor its efforts to treat veterans suffering from TBI in order to improve care.

TBI and PTSD injuries vary in their severity and duration, and as such, VA must employ a robust strategy to detect, treat and follow-up with injured veterans. Currently, the Department of Defense is required to screen veterans after return from, and six months after, deployment. The VA must do more to reach out to injured veterans and if the Heroes at Home Act, of which I am a cosponsor, becomes law, the VA will be required to do so. Resources for veterans suffering from PTSD/TBI are listed below.

As a member of Congress, I am grateful for the sacrifices of all our veterans, and recognize the grave responsibility of the United States Government to provide first class care for its wounded. I have been and will continue to address these important issues and support our military veterans.

Resources for Veterans Suffering TBI/PTSD
VA Resources for Returning Veterans
VA Polytrauma (TBI) System of Care
Where to Get Help for PTSD
Suicide Prevention Hotline