SUPPORTING VETERANS IN 110th CONGRESS

Guest column by U.S. Rep. Ed Pastor Fourth Congressional District of Arizona

Recently the nonprofit organization called the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) graded members of Congress on their votes on key veteran issues. When taking a look at my voting record for 2008, they gave me an "A" grade for my votes on pro-veteran legislation, and I was glad I ranked well on their report card. Veterans should be a priority in Congress and I have supported legislation to help provide them with the resources they need to get their jobs done and return home safely. I also believe it is just as critical to make sure they are not forgotten when they return home and are in need of resources to address their health care and housing needs, for example.
Congress kept a strong focus on veterans’ needs during the 110th Congress, and House Democrats were able to provide more in overall funding increases for veterans than in previous years. During the 2008 fiscal year, Democrats passed the largest increase in veterans health care and benefits funding in the history of the Veterans Administration. This year, with passage of the 2009 fiscal year bill, the VA discretionary budget will be $47.6 billion. Together with the $1.8 billion in emergency funding passed in 2007, the Democratic-led Congress has passed $16.3 billion in increases for the VA.
This Congress also passed a 21st Century GI Bill of Rights, which fully restores full, four-year college scholarships for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans – on a par with the educational benefits available after World War II. The original GI bill of 1944 launched millions of families on a course to achieving the American dream – and set the American economy on the right course after a draining war. It returned $7 to the economy for every $1 spent on it.
Current GI educational benefits pay only about 60 percent of a public college education and 30 percent of a private college education. This bill will also allow service members to transfer unused educational benefits to their spouses and their children. When fully implemented, the new GI Bill will cost about $6 billion a year – which is what we spend in two and a half weeks in Iraq.
Other matter addressed by this Congress was the dramatic increase in suicides among Iraq war veterans. By passing the Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act, the Secretary was directed to develop and carry out a comprehensive program designed to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans. The program must include staff training, mental health increases for veterans, 24-hour veterans’ mental health care availability and a toll-free hotline. Reports have already shown that the hotline has helped prevent 1,221 suicides in its first year.
In other actions, Congress passed the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act (Part of FY08 Defense Authorization Act, H.R. 1538) to take steps to address the problems brought to light by the Walter Reed Army Medical Center scandal. This bill improves outpatient medical care for wounded service members at military health care facilities, begins to restore integrity and efficiency to disability evaluations, and cuts bureaucratic red-tape. It also improves the transition of wounded service members from the Armed Forces to the VA system.
Finally, we passed the Heroes Earnings and Relief Tax Act of 2008. This bill provides $1.2 billion in targeted tax breaks to military personnel and their families, including tax relief under the Earned Income Tax Credit, clarifies the availability of recovery rebates for military families, and expands home-ownership opportunities for veterans.
I hope the information is helpful and demonstrates how the Democratic-led Congress has supported veterans not only in words, but in actions. As always, should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact my Phoenix District Office at 602-256-0551.