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Rep Anna Eshoo

Honoring the Service and Sacrifice of Our Veterans

November 11, 2010
e-Newsletters

 

 

Dear Constituents,

Every November 11th, our entire country reflects on the selflessness of the men and women who have donned a military uniform in service to our nation. Their commitment of so many sacrifices—including giving their lives to protect our security—deserves nothing less than our complete gratitude and admiration. We have a responsibility to honor this service and sacrifice, not just through one day of commemoration, but through a continuing commitment to care for their needs both during and after their service to our country.

This Veterans Day, I'm proud of the progress we've made in Congress to fulfill this pledge to our servicemen and women. Over the past two years in Congress, I have voted for significant legislation to provide historic resources for our veterans, expanding access to VA health care, improving health services for all veterans, and modernizing benefits our troops have earned. Our men and women in uniform can rest assured that they are a high priority in our country.

The following are a few of the key veterans-related accomplishments I voted for in the 111th Congress (you can view a more complete list on my website):

Advance Appropriations for Veterans Health Care

The Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 advances appropriations for the VA by one year, for the first time providing a stable and uninterrupted source of funding for medical care. This landmark legislation guarantees that the VA can better prepare for the healthcare needs of America's veterans. (Signed into law October 22, 2009.)

Enhanced Employment Opportunities

The Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010 reauthorizes the VA work-study program and provides on-the-job training for veterans in the energy sector. (Signed into law October 13, 2010.)

Better Insurance Options for Service Members and Veterans

The Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010 ensures the welfare of veterans and their families by increasing outdated insurance policy limits for service members and veterans, allowing totally disabled veterans to receive free Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance coverage for two years following separation.

Honor for Fallen Service Members and Their Families

The Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010 increases burial and funeral benefits and plot allowances from $300 to $700 for veterans who are eligible for a burial at a national cemetery or who died in a VA facility.

Protection for Service Members Called to Combat

The Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010 prohibits early termination fees for certain contracts after service members receive notice of military orders to relocate to a site that does not support the contract.

Better Benefits

The Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010 increases the number of veterans eligible to receive independent assisted living services, provides greater automobile and adaptive equipment to veterans with severe burn injuries, and increases the automobile allowance for disabled veterans from $11,000 to $18,900.

Expanded Veteran Homelessness Prevention and Care

The Veterans' Benefits Act of 2010 provides $1 million for dedicated services for homeless women veterans and homeless veterans with children. Grants will be made available to provide job training, counseling, placement services, and child care services to expedite the reintegration of veterans into the labor force.

Expanded Eligibility for Emergency Treatment

Another new law (P.L. 111-137) expands veteran eligibility, requiring the VA to pay for emergency treatment for a non-service connected condition if a third party is not responsible for the full cost of care. (Signed into law February 1, 2010.)

More Access for More Veterans, Better Care for Women Veterans, More Rural Health Options

The Caregivers Act of 2010 expands and improves VA services for the 1.8 million women veterans, anticipates the expected increase of women warriors over the next five years, and provides for a much-needed study on barriers to health care access for women. The legislation also provides an additional $30 million in funding to increase the number of Community Based Outpatient Clinics for the more than 3.2 million veterans living in rural areas who do not have ready access to VA hospitals. (Signed into law May 5, 2010.)

Increased Support for All Veteran Caregivers

The Caregivers Act of 2010 provides immediate support for veteran caregivers by creating a program to offer caregiver training, access to mental health counseling, and 24-hour respite care in a veteran's home. This allows caregivers temporary relief without having to leave the veteran at a medical facility.

Addressed Urgent Mental Health Needs of Veterans, Focused on Suicide Prevention, and Simplified Process to Get Service Connection for PTSD

The Caregivers Act of 2010 addresses the troubling reality of post-traumatic stress and incidents of suicide among the veteran population. It allows more veterans access to care for PTSD. Under the new regulations, a veteran who served in a war zone can be treated for PTSD once a VA doctor confirms diagnosis.

I'm also proud to have cosponsored three bills that provide important benefits to our veterans returning from active duty service:

The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010 would revise provisions of the post-9/11 veterans' educational assistance program to include certain National Guard service for eligibility, allow for education in non-college settings (such as vocational training), repeal a limit on the amount of assistance that can be used for licensing and certification tests, and bar benefit duplications.

The RAPID Claims Act is designed to expedite the claims development process for disabled veterans. It allows veterans to submit complete "developed claims" rather than waiting through a lengthy claim development period in which further evidence might be requested, codifying an existing VA policy to allow this. It also requires the VA to rapidly notify veterans why their claim is not fully developed if it is submitted as such, but is missing evidence.

The Veteran Employment Transition Act of 2010 would provide a simplified tax credit for employers who hire servicemen and women discharged from the service in the last 5 years. Employers would use a simplified certification process for recently discharged veterans who qualify for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit. As a result, recently discharged veterans will be able to provide documentation from the Department of Defense without having to go through the current lengthy certification process.

 


I'm privileged to represent thousands of veterans and so many brave Americans still serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. I believe those who served us with such courage and honor deserve the best our nation has to offer when they return. It was a great honor to receive an "A" rating from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America on their annual Congressional Scorecard, and to be one of only 14 Members of Congress to receive this grade.

My office works daily with constituents to aid veterans and help them resolve problems they have with the VA, the National Personnel Records Center, TRICARE, and other federal Armed Forces and veterans programs. We've helped thousands of constituents with their questions and problems and made important breakthroughs for them.

If you have any questions or comments, let me hear from you. If you know someone who will find this E-Newsletter helpful, do share it with them by using the buttons on the right.

God bless our veterans those who are serving today, and God bless America.

Sincerely,

Anna G. Eshoo
Member of Congress