Politics

A New Direction for Veterans and Troops

By Karina

The 110th Congress pledged to put our troops and veterans first: restoring GI Bill veterans education benefits, improving veterans? health care, rebuilding our military, and strengthening other benefits for our troops and military families. See what the 110th Congress has accomplished:

		Passed By Congress		Signed Into Law
STRENGTHENING VETERANS’ SERVICES
Have done more to increase veterans funding in two years than GOP-controlled Congress did in 12—increasing funding more than $16 billion since January 2007 — including the largest single-year increase in the 77-year history of the VA.
Strengthening quality health care for 5.8 million patients and earned benefits for all veterans. (FY 09)
Focusing quality care on the 333,000 veterans who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan, particularly those with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury. (FY 09)
Reducing the 396,000 claims backlog and the 177 day average wait for veterans to access earned benefits by adding 5,100 new claims processors. (FY 09)
Providing much-needed maintenance of VA health care facilities. (FY 09)
Earning the endorsement of the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and other major veterans? groups who hailed this historic legislation as a ?major victory? and an ?impressive commitment? to our veterans.
Modernizing the disability claims processing system, expanding mental health care, providing counseling for veterans? family members and addressing the needs of rural veterans.
STRENGTHENING BENEFITS FOR TROOPS & FAMILIES
Providing a New GI Education Bill, a pay raise, better military health care and family leave to care for wounded soldiers.
Restoring the promise of a full, four-year college education for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, making them part of the economic recovery through a new GI Bill for the 21st Century.
Giving troops a pay raise of 3.5 percent in 2008 and 3.9 percent in 2009 – larger than the President’s budget in both years.
Providing significant tax relief for military families.
Cleaning up the scandal of inadequate care for our wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and facilities nationwide.
Strengthening Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury care at military facilities and preventing TRICARE and veterans health care fee increases.
Providing relief and homeownership opportunities for returning veterans by extending the ban on housing foreclosures from 90 days to 1 year, increasing VA home loan limits, and off ering more and better refinancing options through VA home loans.
Providing Family Medical Leave for families of soldiers wounded in combat.
Conducting oversight on the Walter Reed Army Medical Center scandal, gaps in the DOD and VA health care systems, veterans suicide, and excessive bonuses for top VA officials.				N/A
STRENGTHENING THE AMERICAN MILITARY
Rebuilding our military readiness-at its lowest level since the Vietnam War.
Providing more Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles than the President, which are proven to save lives in Iraq. (FY 09)
Creating a Strategic Reserve Readiness Fund to rapidly address military equipment shortfalls, including Army National Guard equipment.
Ensuring more equipment, training, and body armor for our troops. (FY 09)
Strengthening National Guard preparedness for disaster response here at home, including providing more equipment. (FY 09)
Giving troops adequate time at home to reduce strain on those serving multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
=Complete=Incomplete Click here for a .pdf of the Progress Report>>

Full post as published by The Gavel on November 11, 2008 (boomark / email).