(Washington DC) U.S. Representative Chet Edwards made the following remarks as the House prepared to pass vital funding for troops veterans and their families under the fiscal year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill. The bill builds on the $17.7 billion in historic increases for veterans passed into law by Congress since January 2007:
On behalf of Americas service men and women our veterans and their families it is a privilege for me to present to you the fiscal year 2010 Military Construction and Veteran Affairs Appropriations Bill. I believe this bill and the work we have done since January 2007 - is work that all of us Democrats and Republicans alike can be very proud of. In this time of war we have continued our tradition of a bipartisan Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill that has honored in a meaningful way the service and sacrifice of our service men and women our veterans and their families.
With passage of this Fiscal Year 2010 bill the Congress will have increased veterans health care and benefits funding by 58 in the past two and a half years. In addition we have a new 21st Century GI Education bill that now also transfers this important benefit to the children of those service members who have died while serving our country. This is an unprecedented increase in Congress commitment to veterans and in my book our veterans have earned every dime of this funding funding that:
• has resulted in a total increase of 7100 claims processors the total increase will be 8300 when this bill has passed
• has provided an additional 115 community based outpatient clinics and this bill adds 30 more
• has provided an additional 42 Vet Centers and this bill adds 28 more
• has allowed the Veterans Health Administration to hire an additional 2657 doctors 11509 nurses and 40604 total new staff and this bill provides for 6992 more
• has increased the travel reimbursement rate which had not been increased since 1979 to 41.5 cents per mile
These resources mean that our veterans have better access to the healthcare that they need to include improved access in rural areas and increased access for our middle and lower income Priority 8 veterans. Additionally these resources ensure that our veterans wait less time to get the services and benefits that they have earned.
We have also worked hard to make sure that our military knows that Congress deeply respects the sacrifices that they and the unsung heroes of our nations defense their families make each and every day to keep this great Nation safe. We have heard time and again in testimony that the best support that we can give our military when they are deployed is the knowledge that their families are cared for at home. We listened and have tried to fund initiatives accordingly such as:
• $2.8 billion for new military hospitals so that our servicemen and women know that their families will get the best possible healthcare in high quality facilities
• $1 billion for new child care centers to serve 20000 military children
• $570 million in additional funding for barracks because Congress needs to show our volunteer forces from day one that we appreciate their decision to serve.
The Subcommittee for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs did not accomplish this alone there are several key leaders that have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to support our efforts. Speaker Pelosi promised our veterans that they would be a top priority for her and she has more than honored this promise. Her fingerprints are on every bill that has provided for our military and our veterans and I thank her for her leadership in these efforts. We would not have seen the generous funding increases that I have just highlighted were it not for the support of Chairman Obey and Chairman Spratt. Additionally it was their support of the advance appropriations that I will speak about shortly that got the job done. I must also thank Chairman Filner for his partnership in providing for our veterans and his oversight work to ensure that the VA gets it right. Lastly but certainly not least our Ranking Member Mr. Wamp has been a vital partner in putting together this bill and last years as well and the fiscal year 2010 bill passed out of subcommittee and the full Appropriations Committee unanimously.
Our first initiative in this bill was to provide for the first time ever an advance appropriation for VA Medical Care. This will allow the VA to invest taxpayers dollars more effectively and efficiently and was a top priority of Americas veterans service organizations.
Second we provide $450 million to build new troop housing for Army trainees over 60000 of who are presently living in barracks that dont even meet minimum DoD standards. Eighteen and nineteen year old military recruits dont have many lobbyists running around Capitol Hill but they deserve our nations respect and support for their decision to serve in the military.
Third we provide $200 million for a Guard and Reserve construction initiative recognizing the vital role these troops are playing in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Fourth this bill begins the process of funding our operations in Iraq and Afghanistan through the regular appropriations process by including $1.4 billion for military construction to support our troops in Afghanistan.
Fifth recognizing that the mental wounds of war can sometimes be more painful and long-lasting than the physical wounds of war we provide $4.6 billion for the VA to continue its improvements in PTSD and mental health care for Americas veterans.
Sixth this bill includes funding for the 1200 new claims processors to reduce the backlog of veterans receiving the benefits theyve earned.
Seventh this bill also continues to open up VA medical care to more middle and low-income veterans.
(Washington DC) U.S. Representative Chet Edwards made the following remarks as the House prepared to pass vital funding for troops veterans and their families under the fiscal year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill. The bill builds on the $17.7 billion in historic increases for veterans passed into law by Congress since January 2007:
On behalf of Americas service men and women our veterans and their families it is a privilege for me to present to you the fiscal year 2010 Military Construction and Veteran Affairs Appropriations Bill. I believe this bill and the work we have done since January 2007 - is work that all of us Democrats and Republicans alike can be very proud of. In this time of war we have continued our tradition of a bipartisan Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill that has honored in a meaningful way the service and sacrifice of our service men and women our veterans and their families.
With passage of this Fiscal Year 2010 bill the Congress will have increased veterans health care and benefits funding by 58 in the past two and a half years. In addition we have a new 21st Century GI Education bill that now also transfers this important benefit to the children of those service members who have died while serving our country. This is an unprecedented increase in Congress commitment to veterans and in my book our veterans have earned every dime of this funding funding that:
• has resulted in a total increase of 7100 claims processors the total increase will be 8300 when this bill has passed
• has provided an additional 115 community based outpatient clinics and this bill adds 30 more
• has provided an additional 42 Vet Centers and this bill adds 28 more
• has allowed the Veterans Health Administration to hire an additional 2657 doctors 11509 nurses and 40604 total new staff and this bill provides for 6992 more
• has increased the travel reimbursement rate which had not been increased since 1979 to 41.5 cents per mile
These resources mean that our veterans have better access to the healthcare that they need to include improved access in rural areas and increased access for our middle and lower income Priority 8 veterans. Additionally these resources ensure that our veterans wait less time to get the services and benefits that they have earned.
We have also worked hard to make sure that our military knows that Congress deeply respects the sacrifices that they and the unsung heroes of our nations defense their families make each and every day to keep this great Nation safe. We have heard time and again in testimony that the best support that we can give our military when they are deployed is the knowledge that their families are cared for at home. We listened and have tried to fund initiatives accordingly such as:
• $2.8 billion for new military hospitals so that our servicemen and women know that their families will get the best possible healthcare in high quality facilities
• $1 billion for new child care centers to serve 20000 military children
• $570 million in additional funding for barracks because Congress needs to show our volunteer forces from day one that we appreciate their decision to serve.
The Subcommittee for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs did not accomplish this alone there are several key leaders that have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to support our efforts. Speaker Pelosi promised our veterans that they would be a top priority for her and she has more than honored this promise. Her fingerprints are on every bill that has provided for our military and our veterans and I thank her for her leadership in these efforts. We would not have seen the generous funding increases that I have just highlighted were it not for the support of Chairman Obey and Chairman Spratt. Additionally it was their support of the advance appropriations that I will speak about shortly that got the job done. I must also thank Chairman Filner for his partnership in providing for our veterans and his oversight work to ensure that the VA gets it right. Lastly but certainly not least our Ranking Member Mr. Wamp has been a vital partner in putting together this bill and last years as well and the fiscal year 2010 bill passed out of subcommittee and the full Appropriations Committee unanimously.
Our first initiative in this bill was to provide for the first time ever an advance appropriation for VA Medical Care. This will allow the VA to invest taxpayers dollars more effectively and efficiently and was a top priority of Americas veterans service organizations.
Second we provide $450 million to build new troop housing for Army trainees over 60000 of who are presently living in barracks that dont even meet minimum DoD standards. Eighteen and nineteen year old military recruits dont have many lobbyists running around Capitol Hill but they deserve our nations respect and support for their decision to serve in the military.
Third we provide $200 million for a Guard and Reserve construction initiative recognizing the vital role these troops are playing in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Fourth this bill begins the process of funding our operations in Iraq and Afghanistan through the regular appropriations process by including $1.4 billion for military construction to support our troops in Afghanistan.
Fifth recognizing that the mental wounds of war can sometimes be more painful and long-lasting than the physical wounds of war we provide $4.6 billion for the VA to continue its improvements in PTSD and mental health care for Americas veterans.
Sixth this bill includes funding for the 1200 new claims processors to reduce the backlog of veterans receiving the benefits theyve earned.
Seventh this bill also continues to open up VA medical care to more middle and low-income veterans.
