Veterans

 
 

Veterans

As former Chairman and current Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I have an obligation to help ensure that veterans and their families have access to the benefits and services they so richly deserve. I have been an advocate for our military members and veterans my entire life – it is part of who I am.  It is a priority to ensure that the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) is capable of providing high quality healthcare services to its "core constituency" of service-connected disabled and indigent veterans, and to those with special needs. Along with high quality healthcare, VA must be able to provide adequate benefits in a manner that is both accurate and efficient, ensure a seamless transition from military service to the care of the VA, and to provide veterans every opportunity to live full, healthy lives. 

Veteran Funding

America is providing for its veterans.  President Bush signed into law an appropriations bill providing VA more than $94 billion in total funding for FY2009.  Since 2002, the VA's fiscal year budget authority has increased sixty-eight percent, averaging a nearly 10 percent increase per year.  President Obama's administration has submitted a budget proposal for FY2010 of nearly $109 billion, a 15% increase over the FY2009 VA budget.  On July 10, 2009, H.R. 3082, Military Construction and VA Appropriations for FY2010, a bill that fully funded the President's request, passed the House with my support and was referred to the Senate for consideration.  Additionally, at the local level, I am continuing to work with Governor Daniels to include $3 million in funding to renovate the Veterans' Home in Lafayette, in addition to $869,000 in VA construction grant money made available from the economic stimulus bill, which includes 35% of matching funds from the State.

Veteran Educational Benefits
 
The Post 9/11 GI Bill includes updated benefits for tuition, books, and housing, provides options for transfer of educational benefits, and introduces a new Yellow Ribbon Program which will enable students to attend the more expensive universities, provided the universities choose to participate in the program.  The new GI Bill incorporates a graduated benefit scale providing 40% of the maximum educational benefit to veterans who serve at least 90 days on active duty, and 100% for those who serve at least 36 months aggregate time on active duty, thereby incorporating my proposal of three cumulative years of service.  Although this graduated scale of benefits will benefit the members of our reserve components, there is still room for improvement in that regard.  In July 2009, I asked representatives from the Indiana colleges and universities to participate in a GI Bill forum where we discussed the new GI Bill and encouraged participation in the Yellow Ribbon Program.  I encourage you to visit www.gibill.va.gov for more detailed information on the new Post 9/11 GI Bill.  If you have additional questions not addressed by the website, you can contact a VA counselor at 1-888-GI-BILL-1 (1-888-442-4551).

Veteran Health Care

Our veterans and their families have sacrificed so much to provide for the defense and security of our country.  The unique mission requirements that our country asks of our military members at times yields veterans that have made sacrifices of mind and body that set them apart from the general population and require a focused continuum of care.  It is our nation's obligation to therefore ensure that they have access to the absolute best medical care that our country can provide.  Providing our veterans with multiple health care options is one of the best ways that we can ensure they have access to the unique health care services they require.  Our servicemembers, military retirees, veterans, and their families require medical care that is often unique from their civilian counterparts.  As we consider health care reform for our country, it is important that we preserve the integrity of our VA and DoD health care systems, and ensure our country's health reform includes dual-eligibility options that ultimately provide more quality care options for our servicemembers, veterans, and their family members, when and where they need it.

Veteran Legislation

With the beginning of the 111th Congress this past January, I introduced several new pieces of legislation regarding veteran benefits as a part of my Noble Warrior Initiatives:  the Veterans’ Small Business Promotion Act of 2009 (H.R. 294); the More Jobs for Veterans Act of 2009 (H.R. 295); the Veteran Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Subsistence Allowance Improvement Act of 2009 (H.R. 297); the Homeless Women Veteran and Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Grant Program Act (H.R. 293); the Armed Forces Disability Retirement Enhancement Act (H.R. 296); the Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act (H.R. 1293).  Please see my Veterans Newsletter and the House Veterans' Affair Committee website for more specifics on these Noble Warrior Initiatives. 

House Veterans' Affairs Committee

 Veterans Newsletter

 Helping Women Vets Rise Above Home Video