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Veterans
“We owe a great debt of honor to the men and women who defend our nation, and I am committed to ensuring that our veterans and their families are cared for with the respect and dignity that they have earned." - Congressman Silvestre Reyes
As a former soldier who served in combat in Vietnam, Congressman Reyes has seen firsthand the impact of military service. Congressman Reyes sought seats on the Armed Services and Veterans Affairs Committees upon election to Congress, and, as a senior member of these committees, he works to improve and expand benefits and protections for our nation’s veterans.
Congressman Reyes supports increasing benefits under the Survivor Benefits Plan, and he worked with Congressional leaders to pass legislation allowing the concurrent receipt of military retirement and disability benefits for severely disabled veterans. Though short of obtaining this right for all veterans, it was certainly a step in that direction, and Congressman Reyes continues to seek concurrent pay of military retiree benefits and VA disability for all veterans.
Congressman Reyes is a Life Member of AMVETS, Disabled America Veterans (DAV), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), the Association of the U.S. Army (AUSA) and the American Legion.
Landmark Increases in Funding for Veterans
Between 2007 and 2010, when Democrats controlled the House of Representatives, Congress increased funding for the Veterans Administration (VA) by 60%, including nearly $23 billion for veterans’ health care. Previously, VA funding had been stagnant even though the United States was involved in two major conflicts. Congressman Reyes also fought to change the funding process for VA health care, shifting from one-year budget cycles in which funding could be held up due to unrelated political disputes to a two-year budget where funds are allocated well in advance. Providing appropriate and timely funding for the health care and programs veterans and their families rely on is critical, and Congressman Reyes continues to use his position on the Veterans Committee to advocate for all those who have served.
New GI Bill Education Benefits - Congressman Reyes and his Democratic colleagues fought to enact the new GI Bill for the 21st Century (the “Post-9/11 GI Bill”) to restore the promise of a full, four-year college education for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, making them part of the economic recovery.
Ensuring that Voices of El Paso Veterans Are Heard
Upon election to Congress, one of Congressman Reyes’ first actions was to establish the Veterans Citizen Advisory Panel (VetCAP), which consists of representatives from numerous El Paso veterans organization chapters and posts. The VetCAP is an important tool in making recommendations on legislation involving veterans. The VetCAP meets every month and plays an active role in Reyes’ Annual Veterans Town Hall meetings. Past Town Hall meetings have featured Secretaries of Veterans Affairs, James Nicholson and Anthony Principi, and Under Secretary for Benefits for the Department of Veteran Affairs, Daniel Cooper.
Caring for El Paso Veterans
One of the most important developments for El Paso veterans was the establishment of a new $12 million veterans nursing home opened in El Paso to serve short-term care needs of up to 160 veterans and Gold Star parents. Constructed jointly through the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Texas Veterans Land Board, the facility was built on Fort Bliss land, the transfer of which was authorized by legislation authorized by Congressman Reyes. He worked closely with a committee of El Paso veterans, along with city, county and state leaders on this project, and an El Paso firm successfully bid to serve as the general contractor.
Congressman Reyes secured over $12 million for the construction of a new parking garage to serve patients at William Beaumont Army Medical Center and the El Paso VA.
Knowing the importance of having a local claims office, Congressman Reyes successfully fought to establish a VA Field Office to locally handle claims by El Paso veterans which previously were processed in Waco. As a result, claims are evaluated and rated in a more timely fashion, greatly reducing the time on decisions that previously took much longer.
Press Releases
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Reyes Echoes President Obama‘s Message on Blueprint for an America Built to Last
1.25.2012
Press Releases
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REYES VOTES TO CREATE JOBS, SUPPORT AMERICA'S VETERANS
11.17.2011
Press Releases
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Congressman Reyes holds Veterans Tele-Town Hall and announces passage of Veterans' COLA bill
11.2.2011
Press Releases
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Reyes Announces El Paso Veterans Town Hall
10.27.2011
Press Releases
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6TH ANNUAL VETERANS BUSINESS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD THURSDAY
10.18.2011
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