Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of three important initiatives to improve the quality of services for our Nation's veterans--S. 2484; S. 2486 and H.R. 3936. Each of these measures…
Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of three important initiatives to improve the quality of services for our Nation's veterans--S. 2484; S. 2486 and H.R. 3936. Each of these measures improves crucial service provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs for our brave men and women who served.
The VA is charged with carrying out President Abraham Lincoln's vision of America's veterans: ``To care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan.'' It is important that Congress follow in this tradition by providing the necessary support to the VA as the needs of our Nation's veterans continues to change. I urge my colleagues to provide that support by supporting these three bills.
The Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel Enhancement Act, S. 2484, will help retain and develop the quality professional staff needed to provide first-rate care to our veterans. It provides merit pay and other incentives to properly compensate the dedicated health care workers who care for our heroes.
The Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act, S. 2486, enhances the educational and housing opportunities available to our veterans. It expands the maximum contributions veterans can make for educational assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill and increases the maximum allowable home loan guarantees for which veterans are eligible. This bill recognizes the vital role these programs have played in both repaying the sacrifices made by our veterans and in fueling the economic development through improved education and housing for veterans in our workforce.
The Veterans Health Programs Improvement Act, H.R. 3936, authorizes the VA to construct an improved headquarters outside the Pentagon in order to better serve veterans and their families, and it provides assistance for homeless veterans.
As we enact these important measures, I am hopeful that the House leadership will soon consider the Discharged Combat Veterans Medical Care Extension Act, H.R. 4438. I introduced this bill to extend eligibility to veterans who served in recent hostilities for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care for any illness. This bill would be particularly helpful to veterans with symptoms similar to those resulting from exposure to Agent Orange and Gulf War Syndrome who are compelled to prove within two years of discharge that their injuries are directly combat-related or would otherwise lose these benefits.
Mr. Speaker, the United States has a long and proud history of caring for our veterans. These bills follow that tradition in helping ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs continues to meet our responsibilities to America's heroes. I urge my colleagues to support each of them and thank our veterans for their service and continued dedication to our Nation.
