Veterans
I am committed to making sure that the men and women who have served, are serving, or will serve in the U.S. military get the resources and care they need – both at home and abroad – and guarantee they receive the benefits they have earned.
As the son of a U.S. Navy veteran, I understand the importance of supporting those in uniform and providing them the dignity they are entitled to. This includes:
Boosting veteran benefits: I am committed to honoring our veteran’s service by ensuring they continue to receive all the benefits they have earned, which is why I’m a cosponsor of H.R. 1329, the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-Of-Living Adjustment Act. This bill would increase cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) rates for veterans with service-connected disabilities and for survivors of certain disabled veterans.
Preventing veterans suicide: I was pleased to vote for the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention Act in February 2016 and watch former President Obama sign it into law. The law expands access to mental health services for our nation’s veterans and seeks to curb the epidemic of veterans’ suicides in our country.
Protecting veterans’ from toxic chemical contamination: Oscoda, Michigan, is home to the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base, which has groundwater near the base that is unsafe to drink because of dangerous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS. I have worked to bring safe drinking water to veterans and their families living around the base and launched the PFAS Task Force in Congress to bring Democrats and Republicans together to pass policies that protect veterans and public health.
The following is a list of veteran-based legislation that was signed into law during the 115th Congress with my support.
- H.R. 3218: The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Forever G.I. Bill).
- S. 2372: VA MISSION Act of 2018.
- H.R. 2147: Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act of 2018.
- H.R. 2519: The American Legion 100th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act.
- H.R. 244: HIRE Vets Act.
- H.R. 2288: Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017.
- H.R. 1329: The Veterans’ Compensation COLA Act of 2017.
- S. 1094: The Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017.
- S.1266: Enhancing Veteran Care Act.
- S. 1393: Jobs for Our Heroes Act.
- H.R. 4910: Veterans Cemetery Benefit Correction Act.
- H.R. 2345: National Suicide Hotline Improvement Act.
More on Veterans
“Today’s report confirmed what many veterans serving at Wurtsmith feared, that during their service they were exposed to dangerous chemicals in their drinking water.
Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, will virtually host the fourth annual Veterans and First Responders Recreation Week, from September 14 through September 20.
Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, and Congressman Jack Bergman (MI-01), introduced the Transparency for Wounded Warriors Act to ensure that injured service members receive their benefits earned through service to our country.
“For 17 months, Paul Whelan has been unjustly detained by the Russian government. Russia has not presented any credible evidence to prove their outlandish charges, and they have refused to grant Mr. Whelan his basic human rights or the ability to properly defend himself in court.
“Today the Russian government harshly sentenced Paul Whelan despite not presenting credible evidence and denying him basic rights. This has gone on long enough.
Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus and co-chair of the Congressional PFAS Task Force, sent a new letter today to the Secretary of the Air Force, Barbara Barrett, calling on the Air Force to immediately act to clean-up harmful per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Congress Acts to Support Student Veterans, Access Their Hard-Earned Benefits
Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, announced assistance for student veterans after recent action he supported in the U.S. House of Representatives. The House passed S. 3503, authorizing the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to continue to provide educational benefits for postsecondary programs that have been converted to online learning due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Homemade Cards from Local Elementary Students Delivered to Veterans on Valentine’s Day
Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, today delivered over 500 valentine cards, handmade by mid-Michigan elementary and middle school students, to veterans at the Aleda E. Lutz VA Medical Center in Saginaw.
Veterans Exposed to Toxic Volatile Organic Compounds Chemicals are Facing Serious Health Issues
Flint-Native and Decorated Navy Veteran Will Receive G.I. Bill Benefits After Members of Congress Intervene in Case
Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, along with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that a Flint-native and decorated Navy veteran, Retired Senior Chief Russell Dotson, will receive tens of thousands of dollars of G.I. Bill higher education benefits owed to his family after the U.S. Navy wrongly denied this assistance because of a bureaucratic paperwork mistake.
Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus and co-chair of the bipartisan PFAS Task Force, released the following statement regarding the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act:
“As the head of the bipartisan PFAS Task Force, I want to thank Chairman Smith for including many important provisions that I championed to protect our service members and their families from PFAS chemical contamination and lead exposure.”