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 join with the President in calling on Congressional Republicans to set politics aside and work together with Democrats on helping our veterans find work. The Returning Heroes Tax Credit and Wounded Warriors Tax Credit will provide financial assistance for businesses to hire veterans and remove a hurdle for those finding it difficult to transition to civilian jobs. The President’s American Jobs Act and House Democrats’ Make It In America proposal will help create jobs right away for veterans and all who seek work – but only if Republicans will work with us to do so. The American people – and the brave men and women who have served our nation in uniform – cannot wait any longer for Congress to act. When the Senate brings this bill to the Floor later this week, I hope Republicans will support it.
"Today marks the end of the discriminatory 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' policy, with the Defense Department now empowered to implement its repeal. I have long called for the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' and I am proud to have fought to end it, from writing the compromise language that passed the House in May, to serving as the original co-sponsor of Rep. Patrick Murphy's stand alone legislation that passed the House this past week...
Today the House passed the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010. This important legislation reaffirms our commitment to those who have served our country in the Armed Forces since September 11, 2001. It continues our strong investment in the education and careers of our servicemen and -women and America’s veterans, and it makes key improvements to the landmark Post-9/11 GI Bill that Democrats passed in the previous Congress.
Tomorrow, on Veterans Day, we honor and thank the generations of men and women whose sacrifices have made our freedom possible. We celebrate those veterans fortunate enough to return home to their families and neighbors—and we gratefully remember all those who cannot be with us, whether they are standing guard around the world, or whether they lost their lives in our nation’s service...
Today Republicans unveiled their agenda calling for the exact same failed policies of the past. The national security agenda presented, once again, does not focus on the real fight against terrorism and the places that give them sanctuary and put our nation at risk. A review of the Real Republican Agenda:
The Republicans unveiled their "Pledge to America" last week and, just as we thought, it contained no new ideas and was a return to the "exact same" failed agenda as President Bush. Their agenda to return to their previous policies makes it clear who they stand with—big corporations and special interests, instead of middle class families.
This week House Democrats salute the troops and veterans who have endured great sacrifice to keep our nation safe. Democrats have stood up for our men and women in uniform time and again, making sure we not only protect our homeland, but take care of those who sacrifice so much defending it.
This evening, President Obama delivered an address to mark the end of America's combat mission in Iraq. The Obama Administration and the Democratic Congress pledged to end the war in Iraq, and this month's completion of the responsible redeployment of American combat troops demonstrates that that pledge is being kept. After seven years, the war in Iraq has seen awe-inspiring displays of sacrifice from American and coalition forces; and tonight, above all, we call to memory the more than 4,400 American troops who died in Iraq, along with the more than 30,000 who suffered injuries. We vow to honor their memories, and to honor the compact with all Americans who served, particularly when it comes to providing returning veterans the health care they need and the educational opportunities they deserve.
We’ve heard the Korean War called ‘the forgotten war.’ I would ask: forgotten by whom?