Comment: Vets served us, and now
we must make sure they're served
Happy Veterans Day to the millions of veterans who have served our country well! Throughout history, brave men and women have protected our families and preserved our freedoms. They deserve our respect and gratitude for their service and sacrifice.
Also remember the courageous young men and women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. More than 5,200 have sacrificed their lives, and more than 35,000 U.S. troops have been wounded.
I had an opportunity to speak with troops from Michigan during a recent visit to Kuwait, Iraq, and Germany. I was inspired by their commitment to our country. I keep them—and all our service members and their families—in my prayers and hope for their safe return home.
Ensuring that our 3 million troops and reservists and 24 million veterans have the benefits and services they deserve is a priority. This year, I have sponsored or co-sponsored more than 15 bills, ranging from protecting employment benefits in the event a veteran is absent from work because of a service related disability to mental health screening for all returning deployed military personnel. I am working to address the needs of our veterans and service members because we must keep our promises to our nation’s heroes and their families.
We promise to help them succeed. Congress has enacted measures to expand educational opportunities and economic relief. We provided incentives for businesses to hire unemployed veterans. The new post-9/11 GI Bill provides the opportunity for a four-year college education. I am a co-sponsor of the Veterans Education Tuition Support (VETS) Act, which requires colleges and universities to refund tuition and fees to students who withdraw from school to serve in the Armed Forces.
We promise to provide benefits they have earned and to support military families. Many of our troops have served multiple tours of duty. We provided special $500 payments for the 185,000 service members and veterans forced to serve under stop-loss orders since 2001. We have worked to reduce backlog and delays for veterans trying to access their benefits. I introduced the Veterans Entitlement to Service Act, which requires the VA to acknowledge receipt of first-time claims. We are increasing military pay 3.4% percent and expanding TRICARE health benefits. We are providing more military childcare centers, better barracks and military family housing, and family leave benefits for families of our wounded warriors.
We promise to provide them with high-quality health care. This year’s budget increases the investment in veterans’ health care and services by 60% percent since January 2007. This funding will strengthen health care for more than five million veterans and expand mental health screening and treatment, which is vital to many veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury. We enacted a law authorizing Congress to approve VA medical care appropriations one year before the start of each fiscal year to prevent delays from threatening veterans’ medical care resources. Earlier this year, I was proud to help facilitate securing $3.7 million to improve the eye clinic at the VA Medical Center in Detroit, which will provide more than 375,000 veterans throughout Michigan with access to vision care.
We promise to ensure our troops and their families have the resources they need. The recently enacted defense authorization bill boosts our military readiness and provides our Armed Forces with the training and equipment they need. The supplemental war funding bill includes $312 million I secured for the Stryker Medical Evacuation Vehicle. The continued production of this vehicle will ensure that wounded service members in combat can be transported to medical care quickly and safely.
On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, we must promise to leave no veteran behind. Let us honor their service with actions that fulfill our commitment to our troops and veterans and their families—and that represent our country’s gratitude.
Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick is serving her seventh term as the U. S. Representative for Michigan’s 13th District, which includes the Grosse Pointes, Harper Woods, Ecorse, Lincoln Park, River Rouge, Wyandotte, and half of Detroit. She is a Member of the U.S. House Appropriations Committee. She serves on the Defense and Transportation/HUD Subcommittees of the Appropriations Committee. For more information, visit her website.
