Veterans
As the son of a World War II veteran and the representative of two military bases, supporting our troops at home and on the front lines is a no-brainer for Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger. In fact, it’s something he has built a national reputation on. Dutch believes:
We owe our veterans proper healthcare and benefits.
Dutch supports military pay increases, opposes TRICARE fee increases and supports tax deductions for supplemental premiums and enrollment fees. As part of his extensive constituent service operation, Dutch helps Maryland veterans access their benefits each and every day and is working aggressively to make sure Baltimore’s VA office eliminates its care backlog once and for all.
In Washington, he supports legislation and funding to keep the VA health care system strong, with clean, modern facilities. He is particularly supportive of services to fight the tragically high suicide rate among veterans and improve the treatment of traumatic brain injuries. He has also secured millions in federal funding for the Trauma Clinical Research Program and the Peer Review Orthopedic Research Program, which work to ensure our wounded warriors and veterans can access the best possible medical care.
Returning troops and veterans deserve quality jobs.
Dutch supports legislation to encourage employers to hire servicemembers who have recently returned from duty or who have been discharged and are looking for a job. He consistently supports federal funding for programs that re-train veterans so they have the skills they need to find work in today’s job market. He supported the “new” post September 11 G.I. bill to expand educational benefits for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
As elected officials, we have an obligation to do whatever we can to ease the sacrifices of our military families.
Since coming to Congress, Dutch has launched two national programs that support our wounded warriors and their families. Operation “Hero Miles” helps citizens donate their frequent flyer miles to wounded warriors traveling to receive care through the military health system, as well as to friends and family visiting them. “Hotels for Heroes” allows the American public to donate their hotel reward points, further helping to defray travel costs. Both programs, now administered through the nationally recognized Fisher House Foundation, have been incredibly successful. Dutch also supports every legislative opportunity to better the quality of life for our veterans and their families. For example, he recently signed on in support of the Housing Our Heroes Act, which aims to acquire and renovate abandoned homes for homeless veterans.
Related Cosponshorships
Toxic Exposure Research Act of 2015
Military and Veteran Caregiver Services Improvement Act of 2015
World War II Merchant Mariner Service Act
More on Veterans
(Washington, DC) —Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger today issued the following statement on requiring California National Guard service members to repay enlistment bonuses and other incentives:
(Timonium, MD) – Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) last week received the 2016 “Congressional Leadership Award” by the Association of Defense Communities (ADC), a national organization that advocates for communities adjacent to military installations, such as Aberdeen and Fort Meade. Congressman Ruppersberger was chosen for his work advancing policy issues that support defense communities, military families and veterans.
Aberdeen and Fort Meade, Maryland, are both located in Congressman Ruppersberger’s district.
(Timonium, MD) – Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) today announced that the federal Veterans Health Administration has approved the relocation of an outpatient clinic for local veterans in Eastern Baltimore County that will be double the size of the now-shuttered facility at Fort Howard.
(Washington, DC) – Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) , a cosponsor of bipartisan legislation to improve veterans’ healthcare, today issued the following statement in response to Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald’s description of long waits for care:
(Washington, DC) – Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) today voted in support of a bipartisan funding bill that includes $233 million for the Second District at Fort Meade and vital resources for veterans programs. The “Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act” for fiscal year 2017 passed the House of Representatives in a 295 to 125 vote.
(Washington, DC) –Congressmen C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (MD-02) and Richard Hudson (NC-08) today introduced the bipartisan Care Veterans Deserve Act of 2016 (H.R. 5262) to expand access to healthcare at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) while improving choice, flexibility and quality in veterans’ healthcare.
(Timonium, MD) –Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) on Monday will present a Congressional citation to the family of Colonel Fred Vann Cherry, an Air Force fighter pilot who spent seven years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. Colonel Cherry, who passed away last month while living in Maryland, was the first and highest-ranking black officer to become a prisoner in Vietnam.
(Timonium, MD) – As Baltimore’s local Veterans Affairs office continues to make substantial improvements in its claims backlog, Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger today announced support for new federal funding to help end it once and for all.
(Timonium, MD) - Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) on Thursday will guest coach professional and college-level players in a charity lacrosse game benefitting wounded warriors. Ruppersberger and former State Senator Frank Kelly, a close friend, will face off as guest coaches during the final hour of the fourth annual “Shootout for Soldiers,” a 24-hour game featuring players of all ages that has raised more than $500,000 to date for veterans organizations.
(Washington, DC) – Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, together with U.S. Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin, as well as U.S. Representatives Steny Hoyer, Elijah Cummings, John Sarbanes and John Delaney (all D-Md.) yesterday announced $491,367 in federal grants through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide permanent homes for homeless veterans in Maryland. The Hagerstown Housing Authority will receive $219,521, the Calvert County Housing Authority will receive $198,901, and the Baltimore County Housing Authority will receive $72,945.