Veterans
Democrats are proud to stand with veterans who have endured great sacrifice to keep our nation safe and protect our freedom. We are working to improve health care access and treatment for veterans by cutting red tape, modernizing VA hospitals, building VA outpatient clinics in communities where veterans live, and expanding the health services available under the VA. We are working to eliminate the VA disability appeals backlog so that veterans can receive their benefits in a more timely manner and with fewer errors occurring. We are also taking steps to help veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses find employment. When Democrats last held both the White House and control of Congress, we kept our promise to take care of our nation’s veterans. Democrats updated the G.I. Bill for post-9/11 veterans to strengthen their access to higher education, and recently supported making the G.I. Bill a lifetime benefit for the first time in history. Democrats expanded employment opportunities by bolstering veterans’ workforce programs and offering a tax credit to businesses that hire unemployed veterans. We also increased the number of VA mental health providers and social workers to meet increased demand, and expanded mental health services. We will continue to respond to the needs of veterans and their families.
I joined with many other Members to oppose this year’s Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill out of a deep concern that it does not adequately fund the needs of our nation’s veterans, while using a budget gimmick to get around the sequester cuts imposed by the Republican budget strategy.
On Monday, the President released his budget for Fiscal Year 2016. His budget proposal builds on the strength of our economic recovery to make smart investments that will increase our nation’s competitiveness, while ensuring that working families share in the benefits of the recovery.
I was pleased to be on hand today as the President signed a bipartisan bill to ensure that our veterans receive the timely, quality health care they have earned through their service.
As the world marks the centennial of the outbreak of the First World War today, I join in remembering the service and sacrifices of so many American military personnel who answered the call to fight on distant shores in defense of democracy and values we hold dear.
While I believe it is positive that the Acting Director reported this incident to the Inspector General, I am concerned that the current culture in the Baltimore office may have contributed to this occurring in the first place.
In nominating Robert McDonald to serve as our next Secretary of Veterans Affairs, President Obama has tapped the expertise and talents of a successful business leader.
I join in marking the seventieth anniversary of the enactment of the G.I. Bill, which helped millions of veterans of the Second World War afford higher education, attain homeownership, and train for civilian jobs in the post-war economy.
Democrats continue to closely monitor reports of misconduct at Veterans Affairs health facilities, including the Phoenix VA Health Care System.
Secretary Shinseki has served our nation with honor and distinction.
The VA Inspector General's interim report that was released today is deeply disturbing and demands action to correct the systemic problems that left 1,700 veterans off of the electronic waiting list at the Phoenix VA Health Care System.