Veterans
America’s veterans have made every sacrifice to defend our nation and protect our freedoms. It is my honor to represent nearly 100,000 veterans who live in Southern Arizona and I understand the solemn pledges we make to members of the armed forces and their families. As someone who was raised in a military family and lived on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base as a child, I am proud to work on behalf of veterans and their families. I will work to ensure that our veterans receive the compensation, health care, educational opportunities, and employment assistance that they deserve.
If you are a veteran who is having trouble receiving the benefits you have earned, please click here, or contact my offices in Tucson at 520-881-3588 or in Sierra Vista at 520-459-3115.
Ron Barber
Member of Congress
Improving Care for Veterans
The men and women in the military stepped up when this nation needed their service. Congressman Barber is committed to making it as easy as possible for them to receive the care they need without excessive waits or travel. That’s why he introduced the Veterans Health Access Act, bipartisan legislation to improve access to health care by taking the best interest of the patient into account and increasing the ability of veterans to see their private doctors and other caregivers.
Protecting Veterans Pensions
The first bill that Congressman Barber introduced in Congress was a bipartisan bill that would strengthen the Department of Veterans Administration’s pension program and combat scams against veterans. H.R. 6171, the Protecting Veterans Pension Act, would target financial companies that swindle by selling veterans estate planning services and other financial products that prevent veterans from accessing their assets when they need them most.
Fighting for Veterans Benefits and Pay
Service members on the battlefield shouldn't have to worry about whether they are going to be able to pay their bills six months from now. Congressman Barber introduced an amendment to the six-month federal spending bill to extend military personnel pay for a full year rather than just six months. In addition to funding military pay for soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines for one year, Congressman Barber’s amendment would have prevented the expiration at the end of this year of three Veterans Administration authorizations. Without these extensions, the VA will not be able to pay for some contract medical exams so that veterans can receive their benefits more swiftly. Additionally, the other authorization extensions protected in Congressman Barber’s amendment would have provided treatment and housing services to homeless and mentally ill veterans. While the amendment received bipartisan support, it did not pass the House.
A video of Congressman Barber introducing his amendment on the House floor is here.
Standing up for Homeless Veterans
Some 70,000 veterans in the United States are homeless, many of whom cannot find work after reentering civilian life. It is a national disgrace that they lack such a simple dignity after serving our country. On June 29, Congressman Barber offered an amendment that would add $75 million to the budget for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide homeless veterans with housing vouchers while decreasing federal spending. The measure would have reduced the federal deficit because it was offset by cuts to administrative spending. While the amendment received bipartisan support, it did not pass the House.
Combating Veterans Unemployment
The unemployment rate for veterans nationwide, including young veterans returning from serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, remains much higher than the national average, Congressman Barber is committed to working to lower the veteran unemployment rate. That’s why he has joined the House Veterans Jobs Caucus, which is committed to help find jobs for the approximately 800,000 veterans looking for work. Any person who has put their life on the line in defense of our freedom and homeland should not have to fight for a job or the benefits they deserve when they return home.
If you are a veteran who is having trouble receiving the benefits you have earned, please click here, or contact my offices in Tucson at 520-881-3588 or in Sierra Vista at 520-459-3115.
Press Releases:
VETERANS HEALTH ACCESS ACT, a bipartisan bill I introduced on Sept. 13, 2012.
PROTECTING VETERANS PENSIONS ACT, a bipartisan bill aimed at protecting “poaching” of veterans’ pensions.
U.S. REP. RON BARBER WELCOMES FUNDING TO PROVIDE JOB TRAINING FOR VETERANS