Veterans Issues
Our nation must honor its commitment to America’s veterans. Indiana is home to nearly 550,000 veterans, with 52,000 veterans and survivors collecting disability compensation or pension payments. On average, today’s service members have spent more time in a combat zone than at any other time in our history. As a Nation, we owe a debt of gratitude to those who have served in our armed forces and given so much, as well as to their families, who also have made great sacrifices.
I have supported legislation to help provide our nation’s veterans with the services and care they have earned, including over $300 million to help the VA end the disability claims backlog. I also voted to repeal the COLA adjustment for all current military veterans and active service members. The law has now been changed so COLAs will be calculated as they always have been for current veterans and active-duty service members. I am committed to helping the men and women who fought for our Nation by working to ensure veterans and their families get the benefits they have earned.
More on Veterans Issues
Today, Congressman Luke Messer voted for the Veterans’ Access, Choice and Accountability Act of 2014 (H.R. 3230). This bill reforms the Veterans Administration (VA) and provides better access to quality care for our nation’s veterans.
“Taking care of our veterans shouldn’t be a partisan issue,” said Congressman Luke Messer. “After years of mismanagement at the VA, I’m glad we were able to get legislation passed that reforms the system and gives veterans better access to the care they’ve earned and deserve.”
Congressman Luke Messer greeted dozens of Hoosier war veterans and their families at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., over the weekend. He presented flags flown over the Capitol to Gerald “Bush” White and Bob Briggs who served in World War II and to Tim Albright and Lutz “Bo” Schreiner— both of whom served in Vietnam and are Purple Heart recipients.
WASHINGTON—Congressman Luke Messer (IN-06) released the following statement upon the announcement of Eric Shinseki’s resignation as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs:
“Secretary Shinseki’s resignation is appropriate under the circumstances. But, what really matters is what happens next to ensure our VA system is overhauled from top to bottom to guarantee our veterans are receiving the prompt and proper care they have earned and deserve.”
President Lincoln declared in his second inaugural address that our nation had a duty “to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan.” The words are immortalized on plaques at the entrance to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in Washington. In fact, it has become the VA's motto. Sadly, the VA is failing to fulfill President Lincoln's promise.
WASHINGTON--Today Congressman Luke Messer voted for a thorough review of the claims backlog at the Department of Veterans affairs. H.R. 2189 passed with bi-partisan support and requires the VA to commission a task force to evaluate the backlog of claims and analyze potential improvements to the claims process. He released the following statement:
