Randy's Roundup (Honoring Our Veterans)

Honoring Our Veterans

Veterans Day is just around the corner - November 11 to be exact. While only one day of the year is dedicated solely to honoring our veterans, Americans must never forget the sacrifices that many of our fellow countrymen have made to defend our country and protect our freedoms.

It is because of these sacrifices that I have made veterans a top priority during my tenure in Congress. I worked to keep the Big Spring VA Hospital in Big Spring. As a result, this important facility will remain in the best location possible to provide quality health care for West Texas and Big Country veterans. On the legislative front, I have voted for increases in veterans spending each year that I have been in Congress. Improving veterans medical services has been an area of particular importance. This year, veterans' medical services will receive the highest funding level in history—$25.4 billion, a $2.5 billion increase over last year. In fact, since 1995, funding for veterans medical care has increased by 108%.

However, as our brave men and women continue to return from the battlefields of the War on Terror, Congress must respond by enacting policies that meet the evolving needs of the veterans community. This will require Congress to continue to focus on providing top-notch health care services and making much-needed reforms such as eliminating the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) offset to Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) annuities.

Defending Marriage

Judges in New Jersey struck another blow against marriage last week as they ruled that democratically-enacted laws only recognizing unions between one man and one woman are unconstitutional. This decision points to yet another reason why the the Marriage Protection Amendment is so crucial.

Throughout history, marriage has been the union of one man and one woman. Here in America, that definition of marriage has been the democratically-established and settled law of the land for more than two centuries. In the wake of this judicial decision - and several other like it from across the country - America has a choice to make. Will it let a very small, but very vocal minority overturn thousands of years of history and rewrite the traditional definition of marriage? Or will a majority of Americans, stand up, recognize the importance of the institution of marriage and enact policies that reinforce this vital institution? It is my hope that we can build on current support for the Marriage Protection Amendment, represent the will of the people and support the traditional definition of marriage.

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/hearing/tx19_neugebauer/morenews/RR103006.html