The War in Iraq has cost us more than 3,500 of the lives America’s finest women and men. Over 20,000 more remain maimed and disfigured for life, and an untold number of veterans will face unknown trauma from brain injuries and post traumatic stress disorder. In maintaining the defense of our country, we must maintain the care for our nation’s veterans.
The War in Iraq costs all Americans $10 billion per month. This is money that our cities and counties desperately need to fund programs and facilities that would improve our quality of life. Part of the defense of our nation involves taking care of those who have volunteered to put themselves in harm’s way in defense of our Constitution. We must fully fund our nation’s veteran’s hospitals, provide a pay raise and expanded health care and improved death benefits for the women and men who serve in our military. America’s families want access to well-paying jobs, affordable health care, and quality education. The War in Iraq presents a threat to our military readiness and the development of communities across our country. We must reinvest in programs that address the priorities of America’s families to preserve the safety, security and stability of Americans everywhere.
I was against the War in Iraq from the beginning; I will continue to stand strong for the citizens of the 13th Congressional District of Michigan and America.
Like you, I read about the repeated stories of military personnel and veterans being unintentionally misled through the government health care bureaucracy; denied treatment; languishing while waiting for treatment; the downgrading of diagnosis; or just getting appropriate treatment. In spite of Congress’ best efforts, we still don’t know where we are in terms of appropriately or adequately responding to the needs of prior generation of veterans and those who are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. We have the airplane, we don’t have the flight plan. That is why I introduced the Veterans and Families Mental Health Act of 2007 to fill this void.