Veterans
There are many veterans that live in our district and their issues are important to me and to my work in Congress.
I strongly believe that caring for those who served in the military is one of our nation’s highest priorities. I diligently work to ensure that our former and returning veterans receive the finest care this country can offer. I am also dedicated to continue the fight for a much-needed full service VA medical facility (or equivalent serves at private hospitals), and will continue the work to reduce veterans homelessness within our district. During these difficult economic times, I will continue to fight for every unemployed American including those returning veterans who have already sacrificed greatly for this nation.
In 2011, I hosted a Veterans and Military Service Members Job Fair at the Manchester Community College on Thursday, November 10. Representatives from 40 employers were there to talk with fair participants about employment opportunities. Representatives from one dozen organizations were also on hand to explain services that are available to the veterans community. New Hampshire has the nation’s 6th largest per capita veteran population. Armed Services members sometimes have a difficult time making the transition from the military back to civilian life. Unemployment is greater among their ranks than it is for the general population. Our military veterans were there when our country needed them. This job fair will showed them their fellow Granite Staters are there for them now. You can view pictures from the fair by clicking here.
Click here to read a column I wrote for Veterans Day, 2011 titled "Thank you, Granite State Veterans"
I write a monthly Veterans E-Newsletter to keep Granite Staters informed about what I am doing to help our veterans. If you would like to recieve a copy of the e-newsletter, please email my Senior Projects Director, David Tille at david.tille@mail.house.gov and he will add you to our distribution list.
Legislative Action:
Voted for H.R. 3298, the Homes for Heroes Act
- Faced with mounting homelessness among military veterans, I strongly supported and voted to help pass H.R. 3298, which would create a special position within the Department of Housing and Urban Development to coordinate services for homeless veterans, and also work with other agencies and private groups to assist them. It was approved in the House on March 27, 2012 in a vote of 414-5 and awaits action in the U.S. Senate.
- Click here to read my comments after voting for the Homes for Heroes Act.
Introduced H.R. 4168, the Caring for the Fallen Act
- This important legislation addresses the neglected condition of Clark Veterans Cemetery in the Philippines. Known by many as the “Cemetery America Forgot,” it is the final resting place for 2,200 U.S. military veterans dating back to the Spanish American War. Veterans from World War II and subsequent conflicts through the Iraq War are also buried there. In all, the cemetery contains over 8,600 graves. Over the past 112 years, responsibility for maintaining it shifted among various branches of the U.S. military. Clark Veterans Cemetery was abandoned from 1991 to 1994 and fell into a state of neglect. Volunteers have looked after it for the past 18 years, but the task is too great for them to handle alone.
- The bill designates the American Battlefields Monuments Commission (ABMC) with the responsibility of continually caring for the cemetery, and authorizes it to make necessary arrangements to ensure its on-going maintenance. The bill is budget neutral, with the ABMC paying for the maintenance through existing appropriations.
- You can read my recent editorial, Frankly Speaking: New Hope For "The Cemetery America Forgot" by clicking here.
- Click here to watch video of me speaking in support of H.R. 4168.
Cosponsored H.R. 674, passed the House with a vote of 422-0
- This bill repeals the 3 percent withholding requirement on payments made to vendors by all levels of government (federal, state, and local). It also provides a tax credit to employers of up to $5,600 for hiring a veteran who has been seeking employment for more than six months, as well as a $2,400 credit for veterans who are unemployed for more than four weeks, but less than six months. Up to $9,600 of tax credits are available to employers who hire veterans with service-connected disabilities who have been seeking employment for more than six months.
Supported the the Veterans Cost of Living Increase (COLA), which passed the House by a voice vote on November 2, 2011.
- I supported S. 894, which provides for a 3.6% Cost of Living Adjustment for veterans to become effective December 1, 2011. The support of Congress is vital to ensuring our country’s veterans are given the greatest possible care upon their return.
- On November 2, 2011, I took to the floor of the House of Representatives in support of this legislation and to fight for Granite State Veterans. You can watch the video of my speech by clicking here.
Cosponsored H.R. 2985 Veterans I.D. Card Act
- Currently only veterans entitled to receive retirement or medical benefits are issued an ID card from the VA.
- This legislation corrects this by creating a standardized identification card.
Cosponsored H.R. 2498: Veterans Day Moment of Silence Act
- Directs the President to issue an annual proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe two minutes of silence on Veterans Day, beginning at 2:11 p.m. eastern time, in honor of the service and sacrifice of veterans throughout the history of the nation
Cosponsored H.R. 1591, the Sanctity of Eternal Rest for Veterans Act of 2011.
- It amends the federal criminal code to prohibit disruptions of funerals for members or former members of the Armed Forces to increase the period covered from one to two hours before and after a military funeral.
Cosponsored H. Res 111, establishing the House Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs.
- The committee would conduct a full investigation of all unresolved matters relating to any U.S. personnel unaccounted for from World War II, the Korean conflict, the Vietnam era, Cold War missions, the Persian Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, including MIA's and POW's.
Introduced H.R. 1863, the Veterans Health Equity Act of 2011.
- It requires that veterans eligible for hospital care and medical services through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) have access to at least one full-service VA medical center in New Hampshire, or to hospital care and medical services comparable to that provided in full-service VA medical centers through contract with other health providers in the state.
Introduced H.R. 1980, The Gold Star Mothers National Monument Act of 2011.
- This bill authorizes erection of a Gold Star Mothers National Monument on federal land within the District of Columbia. It does not authorize any federal funding to be used on the Monument. All funds would be raised privately by the Gold Star Mothers National Monument Foundation.
Cosponsored H.R. 2433 the Veterans Opportunity to Work Act of 2011
- Cost of the bill is completely offset by corresponding cuts to the federal budget
- Will enable 100,000 unemployed veterans of past wars to receive up to 1 year of Montgomery GI Benefits
- This bill makes mandatory the Transition Assistance Program (TAP), which provides discharged service members with job seeking skills.
- Strengthens the law requiring employers to rehire National Guard and Reserve members who have recently served and are unemployed.
- H.R. 2433 passed the House of Representatives on October 12, 2011 by a vote of 418-6.
Cosponsored H.R. 2369
- Permits the American Legion to provide guidance and leadership to the individual Departments and Posts at the state level, but the American Legion may not control specific activities.
Cosponsored H.Res 15
- Amends the Rules of the House of Representatives to require that general appropriations for military construction and veterans affairs be considered as stand-alone measures.