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Veterans' Affairs
As a veteran myself, I consider it an honor to represent the brave men and women who have defended our nation through their service in the military. The 110th Congress has passed a number of initiatives that will bring improved attention, oversight and funding for our nation’s veterans.
Like all North Carolinians, I was appalled to learn of poor conditions at Walter Reed and other Veterans Affairs and military medical facilities around the country. Our veterans have sacrificed much to help protect our country, and we have an obligation to see that they get the care and benefits that they deserve. Congress has dedicated itself to providing a new direction for our nation’s veterans by passing legislation that reflects the value we place on our veterans.
On March 28, 2007, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1538, the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007, to remedy this situation and make sure that these conditions are not replicated at other medical facilities around the country. This legislation establishes a system of patient advocates and independent medical advocates to help wounded service members, improves the training and reduces the caseload for these advocates to ensure wounded service members are getting individual attention, and establishes a toll-free hotline to give service members and their families a mechanism for reporting problems and deficiencies in their treatment.
H.R. 1538 will improve the access to quality medical care for service members who are outpatients at military health care facilities, restore efficiency to the disability evaluation system, and streamline the transition of wounded service members from the Armed Forces to the Veterans Administration
I am proud to report that Congress has achieved a long list of accomplishments for our veterans this year. This Congress has truly “put its money where its mouth is” and made veterans funding a priority. Congress has enacted the largest single increase in the 77-year history of the Veterans Administration. This much-needed funding covers a host of areas in veterans health care, facilities and benefits.
As a member of the House Budget Committee, I have worked with my colleagues to make veterans funding a top priority. With such a large and important military presence in North Carolina, it is not surprising that our state has one of highest populations of veterans at more than 756,000. I know North Carolina feels the strain when their needs are not being met.
Today our troops are returning home with injuries that require different care than in the past. To acknowledge these changes, Congress has provided increased funding for mental health needs, including post traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries. One-third of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan face mental health challenges. We are starting to see that thousands more of our men and women in uniform are suffering from traumatic brain injuries. The conflicts we face today come with different injuries, and we can’t afford to get behind the curve.
These are some positive steps forward. However, there will always be more work to do to make sure that we are providing the best possible care and quality of life for our veterans. You can be sure that I will continue to work on behalf of our veterans as long as I serve in Congress. On behalf of the Second Congressional District of North Carolina, I thank all of our veterans for the service and the sacrifices they and their families have made.
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