Honoring our Nation's Veterans

Statement

Honoring our Nation's Veterans

My wife, Emily, had a dear uncle, Joseph H. Washington of Charleston. Uncle Joe, as most people who knew him affectionately called him, was in the Navy serving on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He was one of the lucky ones who survived that historic attack and went on to serve his country in World War II. Following his service, Uncle Joe received the benefits promised him as a military veteran and his love of country never waned although he never quite got over some of the experiences he endured.

The hundreds of thousands of American military personnel who have or are currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan are receiving much different treatment. These military veterans return home, many with significant injuries, and they are met by a Veterans Affairs' healthcare system ill-equipped to meet their needs. Nearly 400,000 of those proud veterans are thanked for their service by enduring unreasonably long waits to have their VA benefit claims processed.

The House and Senate have sent President Bush a new VA funding package that helps rectify the poor treatment veterans have endured in recent years. Our legislation provides $37.2 billion for VA hospitals and clinics. Some of that funding will pay for researching conditions such as Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder that are common among veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, the bill appropriates $124.2 million to provide 1,800 new claims processors to address the backlog of benefit claims.

As we celebrate this Veterans' Day the sacrifices made by our men and women who have bravely served their country, the President is threatening to veto this VA funding package. His argument is the legislation contains "excessive levels of spending." Yet he doesn't blink at requesting an additional $42 billion to continue his war that is responsible for the skyrocketing demand for VA services. The irony is not lost on me or many of the veterans who contact me.

Just two weeks ago, I spoke at the annual banquet of the Walterboro (Hiram E. Mann) Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, who were based in Walterboro. The Tuskegee Airmen were a renowned company of African American escort pilots who were reputed to have never lost a plane in combat. Yet when these heroes returned home from the war, they returned to a country that still treated them as second class citizens because of the color of their skin.

In the 21st century, I don't want our nation to be known as country that still sends our men and women off to war and treats them as second class citizens upon their return. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a spending bill that provides the largest increase for veterans in the 77-year history of the VA. It halts fee increases for health care that the President proposed, and ensures our veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan receive the quality health care and benefits they have earned.

In addition, this Congress has voted to increase military pay by 3.5 percent, and help the 60,000 survivors and widows of those who have died from service-connected injuries, who currently lose survivor benefits under the Military Families tax. This Congress is honoring our troops, military families and veterans with a plan to provide the quality health care they deserve. The President has called these efforts to assist our military personnel and their families "unnecessary."

On Veterans' Day we honor those who have served this nation on the front-line of freedom and democracy. It is a day that I remember Uncle Joe, who left us last year, but still represents to me all that is honorable about military service. It is a day that I hope President Bush will reconsider the needs of our nation's veterans and support the VA spending legislation, which will enable our country to fulfill its responsibility to those that have served us so admirably.

Source