Veterans
Veterans have made important sacrifices for our nation, and it is our responsibility to ensure that their efforts are recognized and appreciated. I am committed to protecting the benefits that our veterans have earned, which is why I am a cosponsor of the Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act. This Act will prohibit increases in TRICARE premiums, deductibles, copayments, and other fees. I am also a cosponsor of the Retired Pay Restoration Act and the Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act to help some veterans receive both retired pay and disability compensation that they have earned.
Aiding veterans after they leave the active military is another way to honor their dedication. I support the Post 9/11 GI Bill Payment Restoration Act to eliminate gaps in living stipends for veterans enrolled in higher education programs through the GI Bill, and two bills to help veterans with attaining and maintaining homeownership: the Veterans Home Loan Improvement Act and the Veterans Home Loan Refinance Opportunity Act.
More on Veterans
Bonamici gave a general overview of issues that surfaced at other town hall meetings, ranging from healthcare and immigrant family separations, to the environment, Social Security, Medicare and the Trump administration.
Bonamici began by explaining her view on healthcare, a topic she said many are worried about. "I'm interested in strengthening access to health care, not taking it away," she said. "We need to work together to find a way to make sure that people have access to health care."
BEAVERTON, Ore. [08/21/18] – Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) announced that Easterseals Oregon will receive $1.5M in federal funding over three years to provide employment services for homeless veterans in Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties. The funding allows Easterseals Oregon to expand beyond Multnomah County and offer these services for the first time in Washington and Clackamas counties.
Just before Memorial Day, Congress passed a law that could lead to closure of veterans hospitals and send more veterans to private doctors for care. President Trump applauded the law’s passage. The AFL-CIO called it “a giant misstep toward privatization.”
Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to S. 2372, the VA MISSION Act because the bill falls short in fulfilling our commitment to veterans. Though this legislation contains many positive provisions to support our veterans and their caregivers, on balance it is a short-sighted approach that does not adequately provide for the long-term needs of those who have honorably served our country. The bill subjects funding for VA programming to the nondefense discretionary caps, which leaves it vulnerable to being underfunded or being funded at the expense of other critical programs in the future.
Even as advocates celebrated the opening of Pomeroy Place in Aloha, which will provide housing for 20 low-income veterans and their families, a state official says many more could be built if lawmakers raise the recording fee at their upcoming session.
"We have a lot more work to do. We must end housing instability and homelessness for our veterans, our seniors, those who are disabled, and families," said Kenny LaPoint, assistant director for public affairs of the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department.
ALOHA, Ore. —
A local family is fighting to unite after the Vietnam war. They’ve been separated for more than 40 years because they’ve been stuck in the legal immigration process.
Pictures document some of the best moments in life. For Ai Nguyen, photos fill the gaps in his life. The last time he saw his oldest sister, An, and youngest sister, Ngoc, was in Vietnam in 1971, where they took their last family photo together. The two sisters are still in Vietnam.
This fall I wrapped up a series of six town hall meetings with two final meetings in Cannon Beach and Portland. I celebrated the Portland Thorns’ victory in the National Women’s Soccer League Championship—go Thorns! Another highlight was working with Senator Jeff Merkley to bring the “I Am Not Invisible” exhibit featuring Oregon women veterans to the nation’s capital. Too often women veterans feel invisible, but seeing the faces and stories of women veterans from Oregon in the halls of Congress was a proud moment for me and for women veterans everywhere.