It has been one of my greatest honors as a United States Senator to work on behalf of America's veterans. These men and women have given much to North Dakota and our nation. We must do everything we can to enhance the quality of life of veterans across the nation and in North Dakota.
Veterans Health Care
Clinics Open Across North Dakota
Fighting to Improve the Vets Home
WWII 'Honor Flight' Welcome to Nation's Capital
'Stolen Valor' Act
Defending the Privacy of Military Funerals
America's Newest Veterans
Veterans Health Care
America's veterans deserve the finest health care our country can provide. Since being elected to the Senate more than 20 years ago, Senator Conrad has sought to increase of access to high quality veterans' health care.
In his role as Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, Senator Conrad is committed to ensuring veterans are not shortchanged by the budget process.
After years of under-funding, Senator Conrad's Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2011 provided yet another significant increase in funding for the VA. This year, his FY 2011 budget includes more than $57.2 billion for America's veterans, a 7.4 percent increase over the 2010 enacted level in funding for veterans benefits and services. This funding will ensure that the VA can provide the highest quality health care for all veterans, especially for our veterans with special health care needs, including those with mental health needs, as well as ensuring the VA will have the resources to fund research on the conditions affecting our veterans, especially those with traumatic brain injuries.
Testifying before a Senate Budget Committee field hearing in March 2008, Greg Seurer, National Service Officer for the Disabled American Veterans, said Conrad's Budget Resolutions make an enormous difference. Seurer said: "Additional funds will be greatly appreciated within the VA and by veterans in North Dakota and all States because these additional dollars will help address a number of chronic problems that have impeded VA in the past."
Clinics Open Across North Dakota
In states like North Dakota it is not unusual for veterans to travel hundreds of miles for basic health care. In fact, only 37 percent of the nearly 60,000 veterans in North Dakota are within a one-hour drive time for primary care and hospital. This limits their access to needed care.
For many years, Senator Conrad has worked with the VA to address the problem of long travel distances and a lack of access by increasing the number of VA facilities. In recent years, the VA has opened seven Community-Based Outpatient Clinics, including clinics in Williston, Dickinson, Jamestown, and Grand Forks. An additional clinic in Devils Lake is expected to open sometime in 2011. These clinics greatly enhance North Dakota veterans' access to care, cutting down on travel time and ensuring veterans receive the care they need and earned.
With a new and growing generation of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, even more must be done. We have a responsibility to care for these veterans. We cannot fail them.
Fighting to Improve the Vets Home
When word came that the veterans' home in Lisbon was in dire need of repair and reconstruction, Senator Conrad immediately urged U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary James Nicholson and Governor John Hoeven to make federal and state funding available to repair the home.
The historic facility in Lisbon provides nursing home care to more than 100 veterans and their spouses. Despite the strong foundation of a supportive community and the hard work of a top-notch staff, the building itself had fallen on hard times. Quality of care is not an issue, but a failure to promptly repair or replace the building could have led to disaster.
As a result of Senator Conrad's efforts and overwhelming public support, the state legislature approved $6.4 million in state funding for the home.
"The government has an obligation to meet the promises made to the men and women who have worn our nation's uniform, Senator Conrad said. "Constructing a new Veterans Home in Lisbon is one way we can honor the service of our veterans."
WWII 'Honor Flight' Welcome to Nation's Capital
As a thank you to the men and women of our "Greatest Generation," Senator Conrad has welcomed hundreds of World War II veterans from North Dakota and Minnesota to Washington, D.C. to receive the thanks of a grateful nation.
The North Dakota and Minnesota Honor Flights brought WWII veterans to the nation's capital for a series of receptions hosted by Senator Conrad and the North Dakota and Minnesota Congressional delegations. The 'Honor Flight' veterans have also toured the National WWII Memorial and participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery as part of the trip. The all-inclusive trips were provided at no cost to the veteran.
'Stolen Valor' Act
In an effort to secure the honor of our military heroes, Senator Conrad wrote legislation to penalize criminals who use phony military medals to fraudulently claim to be decorated veterans. Senator Conrad's Stolen Valor Act unanimously passed both houses of Congress and was signed into law by the President in late 2006.
The Stolen Valor Act expands existing law, making it a federal crime to impersonate a decorated veteran. Specifically, the Conrad bill allows for the prosecution of imposters who falsely claim to be recipients of the Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Awards, Silver Star, or Purple Heart. The Stolen Valor Act has already proven effective as a number of individuals have been nabbed for wearing medals they did not earn on the field of battle.
"It is disgraceful that there are imposters claiming to have received medals they did not earn. It is my hope this legislation will serve to honor the brave men and women of our military who earned these medals through their service, " Senator Conrad said.
Defending the Privacy of Military Funerals
For years now, an extremist Kansas church has been travelling around the country to stage offensive protests near military funerals of our nation's Fallen Heroes. After a protest occurred in North Dakota in 2006, Senator Conrad introduced legislation to expand pre-existing federal laws prohibiting demonstrations at and around "national cemeteries" during military funerals to include protests within 300 feet of "any military funeral." That legislation passed and became law.
The Supreme Court has since ruled that the First Amendment protects the protesters against civil lawsuits. In response, Senator Conrad introduced the Sanctity of Eternal Rest for Veterans (SERVE) Act. This bill would increase the "quiet time" during which protests cannot take place before and after military funeral services from one hour to two hours and would increase the distance within which protests are prohibited from 300 feet to 500 feet. It also would impose criminal penalties on violators, and would make clear that the family of the fallen may sue for damages, a right denied them by the Court's ruling.
America's Newest Veterans
With every update from Iraq and the greater Middle East, we are reminded of the immense sacrifices of the men and women of our nation's military. Many of North Dakota's servicemen and women have returned home to a hero's welcome. These newest veterans are joining thousands of their brothers in arms who were promised benefits by the federal government as part of their service to the nation.
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