America owes a debt of gratitude for the service and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans. The freedom and safety that we all enjoy has not come at a low cost. The debt however does not stop with the veterans as the families sacrifice can be even larger.

Most of the benefits provided to our Veterans and their families are conducted through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The first point of contact for veterans receiving federal benefits is the VA Detroit Regional Office. Veterans Service Office can help you prepare claim forms, obtain veterans records, and provide information on programs through the VA.

The benefit programs administered by the VA include compensation payment for disabilities or death related to military service, pensions, education and rehabilitation, home loan guaranty, burial, and a medical care program incorporating nursing homes, clinics, and medical centers.

A more comprehensive list of resources for services and benefits available are listed on this page, which I hope will be helpful in your search. If you have further questions, please don't hesitate to contact me

If you are having a problem resolving a claim for benefits from the VA, obtaining a decoration or award you earned during your service, or problems involving any other service or benefit you are entitled and need assistance, information on how to open a case file can be found on my Federal Assistance web page.

The federal assistance to veterans is coordinated by the Veterans Administration (VA). The VA is a cabinet-level agency founded in 1988. The VA budget of over 70 Billion dollars is primarily spent carrying for the health of our nation's veterans.

• Current Veterans Benefits Manual
• Veterans Affairs Facility Near You
• Veterans Affairs Online Application
• Toll Free VA Number
• Veterans Employment and Training
• Veterans Benefits Administration
• Gulf War Veterans Resources

The Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) supports the Michigan National Guard as well as other troops from the state.

• Michigan Veterans Affairs
• Michigan National Guard Family Program
• Family Readiness Group

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) is an organization of current and foreign members of the U.S. Armed Forces, founded originally in 1899. The VFW offers services and support to veterans of all services and stripes.

• Michigan VFW Contact
• VFW Post Locator
• VFW Talk Radio

Ensuring that our veterans receive quality care and services is one of my top priorities. Please find below the legislation I have sponsored and co-sponsored during the 111th Congress.

The legislation is designed to ensure that the Department of Veterans of Affairs (VA) acknowledges receipt of first-time claims. The bill would require the VA to respond to claims submitted by veterans or family members of military service personnel seeking benefits by mail or by phone within 60 days.

This bill would allow veterans who are absent from employment for purposes of medical treatment for a service-connected disability (absent employee) to maintain their employment status (e.g., seniority, benefits, sick leave, and vacation). It also terminates such entitlement when a person knowingly provides written notice of the intent not to return to such position following treatment. It provides that an employer shall not be required to comply with the requirements of this Act if: (1) the employer's circumstances have so changed as to make such compliance impossible or unreasonable; (2) such compliance would pose an undue hardship on the employer; or (3) the employment in question is for a brief, nonrecurring period without a reasonable expectation of continuing indefinitely or for a significant period. The measure also prohibits any employer discrimination or acts of reprisal against an absent employee.

This legislation directs the Secretary of Defense to establish the Military Valor Roll of Honor registry, which shall: (1) contain the names and citations of all members of the Armed Forces, members of the U.S. merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service), and civilians affiliated with the Armed Forces who have been awarded the medal of honor or any other medal authorized by Congress for the Armed Forces, the U.S. merchant marine, or affiliated civilians; and (2) be a publicly available database.

This bill would direct the Secretary of Defense to develop a program under which postal benefit vouchers would be provided during FY2010 for members of the Armed Forces who are serving in overseas operations or who are hospitalized due to a disease or injury incurred as a result of such service.

This measure repeals certain provisions that require the offset of amounts paid in dependency and indemnity compensation from Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities for the surviving spouses of former military personnel who are entitled to military retired pay or who would be entitled to retired pay except for being under 60 years of age. It also prohibits requiring repayment of certain amounts previously paid to SBP recipients in the form of a retired pay refund and repeals the optional authority of (and instead requires) the Secretary of the military department concerned to pay an annuity to a member's dependent children when there is no eligible surviving spouse.

This bill would establish an Office of the Victims’ Advocate within the Department of Defense (DOD) to facilitate access to services for victims of domestic or family violence, sexual assault, and stalking in the military. It also would direct the Secretary of Defense to require DOD policies for victim assistance, family advocacy, and equal opportunity programs to provide for a victims' advocates program within each military department. In conjunction with this new office, the bill would provide for employment of a sexual assault nurse examiner, a psychiatrist, and a complimentary clinical team at each DOD military treatment facility and DOD community level programs and shelter services for active duty members and their families who are victims of such violence shelter. Equally important to the support and treatment of the victim, the bill would also establish criminal procedures into sexual assault and violence violations by directing a military commanding officer who receives a qualifying complaint alleging such violence to investigate it and report. The bill would also do the following: specify circumstances under which military law enforcement officers shall arrest a person for committing domestic violence; establish a Director of Special Investigations in DOD to review investigations of allegations of such violence and refer cases for prosecution; amend the Uniform Code of Military Justice to (1) include as "aggravated assault" and specify penalty limits for an assault involving domestic or family violence and (2) provide for court-martial punishment of violations of no contact or protective orders; authorize the Secretary to contract for treatment services for members of the Armed Forces who have committed such violence and to ensure that sex offender treatment providers in the contracted program meet the state licensing or certification standards; require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care providers receive training in the screening and referral of veterans who have suffered military sexual trauma and to conduct related pilot programs; and prohibit the Secretary of the military department concerned from approving a financial award or a promotion for an officer or employee who has been convicted of or disciplined for committing such violence.

This legislation defines “combat with the enemy,” for purposes of proof of service-connection for veterans' disability compensation, as service on active duty in a theater of combat operations during a period of war or in combat against a hostile force during a period of hostilities.

For purposes of voting for a federal, state, or local office, this bill would amend the Service Members Civil Relief Act to prohibit deeming a person to have lost a residence or domicile in a state, acquired a residence or domicile in any other state, or become a resident in or of any other state solely because the person is absent from a state because the person is accompanying the person's spouse who is absent from the state in compliance with military or naval orders. It would also prohibit a service member's spouse from either losing or acquiring a residence or domicile for purposes of taxation because of being absent or present in any U.S. tax jurisdiction solely to be with the service member in compliance with the service member's military orders if the residence or domicile is the same for the service member and the spouse. Prohibits a spouse's income from being considered income earned in a tax jurisdiction if the spouse is not a resident or domiciliary of such jurisdiction when the spouse is in that jurisdiction solely to be with a service member serving under military orders. The bill also suspends land rights residency requirements for spouses accompanying service members serving under military orders.

This bill would amend the Internal Revenue Code to permit federal civilian and military retirees to pay Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) and TRICARE supplemental premiums on a pretax basis (i.e., exclude premiums from gross income) and a tax deduction (available to itemizers and non-itemizers) for TRICARE supplemental premiums or enrollment fees.

This measure directs the Postmaster General to provide for the issuance of a forever stamp (a stamp that meets first-class postage requirements even if postage rates increase) to honor the sacrifices of the men and women of the Armed Forces who have been awarded the Purple Heart.

This bill repeals current Department of Defense (DOD) policy concerning homosexuality in the Armed Forces. It prohibits the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation against any member of the Armed Forces or any person seeking to become a member. Authorizes the re-accession into the Armed Forces of otherwise qualified individuals previously separated for homosexuality, bisexuality, or homosexual conduct. The bill also requires such Secretaries to ensure that regulations governing the personal conduct of members of the Armed Forces are written and enforced without regard to sexual orientation.

This legislation expresses the sense of Congress that the increasing rate of suicide among veterans returning from Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom is a serious problem and the Secretary of Defense should conduct mandatory, face-to-face, and confidential mental health and traumatic brain injury screenings for each member of the Armed Forces (member) during the period beginning 90 days after the member completes a deployment in support of a contingency operation and ending 180 days thereafter. The bill directs the Secretary to carry out such screenings and prohibits the Secretary from prohibiting a member from returning to the United States due to any screening result or determination. It also requires the Secretary and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a joint protocol to share existing and future reports from confidential screenings conducted to help aid members in their transition from health care and treatment provided by the Department of Defense (DOD) to health care and treatment provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

This bill makes any veteran who served on active duty in a theater of combat operations during World War II, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam era, the Persian Gulf War, Operations Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom, or any other period of war after the Persian Gulf War, or in combat against a hostile force during a period of hostilities, eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for any mental illness through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), notwithstanding insufficient medical evidence to conclude that the mental illness is attributable to such service.

This measure directs the Secretary of Defense to establish in the Department of Defense (DOD) the Office of Technical Assistance to carry out the Secretary's responsibilities of establishing and operating a wounded warrior resource (support) center, as required under the Wounded Warrior Act. It also requires the Office, upon the discharge or release of a member of the Armed Forces, to transmit the member's service record and contact information to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, who shall in turn contact and provide such person necessary information to apply for any benefits to which the person may be entitled through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

This legislation directs the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to make appropriate arrangements for the award of a single gold medal in honor of the Women Air Force Service Pilots (WASP) collectively, in honor of their pioneering military service and exemplary record, which forged revolutionary reform in the U.S. Armed Forces. It also expresses the sense of Congress that the Smithsonian Institution shall make the medal available for display elsewhere, particularly at other locations associated with the WASP.

This bill amends title IV (Student Assistance) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require institutions of higher education to refund to students the tuition and fees paid for education they will not receive due to their withdrawal from school to serve in the Armed Forces. It also waives the application of any requirement that students return title IV funds upon withdrawing from school to students whose withdrawal is necessitated by service in the Armed Forces and provides loan forgiveness under the Federal Family Education Loan, Direct Loan, and Perkins Loan.