Accomplishments for Veterans
|
|
Since 2007, Rep. Grace Napolitano has been working with Congressional Democrats to make historic gains for America's troops, veterans, and military families. Here are some examples of what has been accomplished:
|
|
|
Expanding Economic Opportunity
|
Status
|
|
New GI Bill for the 21st Century takes effect August 1 to restore the promise of a full, four-year college education for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan; veterans can sign up now.
|
Signed into law, 110th Congress
|
|
|
Give businesses a $2,400 tax credit for hiring unemployed veterans.
|
Signed into law, 111th Congress
|
|
|
Help military family homeowners harmed by the housing crisis.
|
Signed into law, 111th Congress
|
|
|
Expand relief, homeownership opportunities, and refinancing options for returning veterans through VA home loans.
|
Signed into law, 110th Congress
|
|
|
Create a new Veterans Corp to provide services to veterans and military families, as well as create volunteer opportunities for veterans to put them back to work.
|
Signed into law, 111th Congress
|
|
|
Strengthening Health Care
|
|
|
|
Increase funding for veterans' health care and other services by $17.7 billion (more than 40%) since January 2007, the largest single increase ever.
|
Signed into law, 110th Congress
|
|
|
Increase veterans budget by 12% to allow for health screening and improved care.
|
Passed House, 111th Congress
|
|
|
Strengthen mental health services critical to the estimated 620,000 returning troops suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, or traumatic brain injuries (TBI) from Iraq or Afghanistan.
|
Signed into law, 110th Congress
|
|
|
Require comprehensive DOD policy to address TBI and PTSD, establish a DOD Center of Excellence on Psychological Health and TBI, improve screening and detection for PTSD, expand hiring of mental health professionals.
|
Signed into law, 110th Congress
|
|
|
Invest in DOD research for PTSD and TBI, along with counseling, suicide prevention, tele-health and risk reduction efforts for troops and families.
|
Signed into law, 110th Congress
|
|
|
Establish comprehensive suicide prevention services for veterans and a 24-hour suicide hotline, preventing an estimated 1,200 suicides a year.
|
Signed into law, 110th Congress
|
|
|
Remedy inadequate support for our wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and facilities nationwide.
|
Signed into law, 110th Congress
|
|
|
Improve outpatient medical care, restore integrity and efficiency to disability evaluations, and cut down on red tape.
|
Signed into law, 110th Congress
|
|
|
Rebuild and renovate VA and military hospitals.
|
Signed into law, 111th Congress
|
|
|
Expand VA mental health care services, invest one-third more than in FY 2006, and provide three additional years of health care eligibility for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.
|
Signed into law, 110th Congress
|
|
|
Prevent TRICARE and veterans health care fee increases proposed by President Bush.
|
Signed into law, 110th Congress
|
|
|
Improving Benefits for Troops and Military Families
|
|
|
|
Give troops a pay raise of 3.5% in 2008 and 3.9% in 2009.
|
Signed into law, 110th Congress
|
|
|
Retroactively provide more than 170,000 service members and veterans with $500 for every month they were forced to serve under stop-loss orders since 2001.
|
Passed House, 111th Congress
|
|
|
Add 7,100 new claims processors to sort out the backlog of 396,000 veterans' claims and reduce the wait for veterans to access earned benefits.
|
Signed into law, 110th Congress
|
|
|
Build transition centers for wounded warriors, military child care centers, and better barracks and military family housing.
|
Signed into law, 111th Congress
|
|
|
Provide family medical leave for families of soldiers wounded in combat.
|
Signed into law, 110th Congress
|
|
|
Reduce Military Families Tax on surviving spouses.
|
Passed House, 111th Congress
|
|
|
Rebuilding the American Military
|
|
|
|
Provide troops in Iraq and Afghanistan with better equipment, including Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles proven to save lives.
|
Passed House, 111th Congress
|
|
|
Create Strategic Reserve Readiness Fund to rapidly address military equipment shortfalls.
|
Signed into law, 110th Congress
|
|
|
Ensure more equipment, training, and body armor for troops.
|
Signed into law, 110th Congress
|
|
|
Strengthen National Guard preparedness for disaster response here at home, including updating equipment.
|
Signed into law, 110th Congress
|
Our summer newsletter is out now! Read about new projects in the district, new federal programs, and more.
Click here