Issue Position: Veterans

Issue Position

Issue Position: Veterans

I believe we need to do more to live up to our obligations to veterans. All the training and weapons upgrades in the world will be rendered ineffective if military personnel and their families, military retirees, and veterans are not afforded a good "quality-of-life" opportunity.

I am committed to the quality health care that our veterans deserve and were promised, including accessibility and availability of services. As a member of both the Senate Budget Committee and the Appropriations subcommittee that handles veterans' affairs, I will continue to work with my colleagues to make certain that veterans' services are fully funded.

Below you will find legislation that I introduced in the 109th Congress for our military and our veterans:

S. 331 Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act of 2005

I introduced S.331, the Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act of 2005, on February 9, 2005. This bill would change the way in which the VA health care system is funded by moving it from discretionary to mandatory spending. The bill would establish a base-line funding year (130% of the FY2005 VA health care budget) and then provide future funding based on the total number of veterans who participate in the VA health care system and the annual rise in cost of providing health care services (based on the consumer price index for hospital and related services). The bill has been endorsed by the Partnership for Veterans Health Care Budget Reform which is made up of nine important veterans' organizations including the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans, the Paralyzed Veterans of American, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

S.407 Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act

On February 16, 2005, I introduced The Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act (S.407). This bill would exempt military retirees who joined the armed forces prior to December 7, 1956 from paying Medicare Part B premiums to access Tricare for Life. In addition, the bill would give military retirees the option to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) instead of Tricare, and would establish a system to reimburse pharmacy expenses - at Tricare rates - for military retirees who cannot access Tricare pharmacies due to physical or medical constraints.

S. 2091 Montgomery GI Bill Enhancement Act of 2005

I introduced S. 2091, The Montgomery GI Bill Enhancement Act of 2005, on December 13, 2005. The Montgomery GI bill currently excludes approximately 74,000 servicemen and women on active duty who, because they were on active duty before 1985 and did not participate in the Veterans' Educational Assistance Program, are not eligible for the MGIB. This bill will allow a one year open enrollment period for thousands of career military personal who are prohibited from signing up for education benefits under the MGIB.

S.633 American Veterans Disabled for Life Commemorative Coin Act

On March 16, 2005, I introduced S.633, the American Veterans Disabled for Life Commemorative Coin Act of 2005. This bill will authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to mint a commemorative coin honoring the millions of veterans of the United States Armed Forces who were disabled while serving our country. Revenues from the surcharge on the coin will go to the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation to help cover the costs of building the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington, D.C. I was successful in getting S.633 passed in the Senate. Unfortunately, this bill failed in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Awards

I am proud of my commitment to issues important to enlisted personnel and military retirees. Below are awards I have been honored with for work on behalf of veterans.

- Honored by the Disabled Veterans LIFE Memorial Foundation for his continued dedication to disabled veterans, and his efforts to support building a memorial to honor disabled veterans in Washington, DC.

- Arthur T. Marix Congressional Leadership Award - This award was presented to Senator Johnson in recognition for his outstanding efforts on behalf of military retirees.

- L. Mendel Rivers Award for Legislative Action from the Non Commissioned Officers Association (NCOA) - This award was presented to Senator Johnson for his commitment to defense issues, particularly to improving the well-being and quality of life of enlisted personnel.

- Disabled American Veterans National Commander's Award

- George "Buck" Gillespie BAVF Congressional Award from the Blind American Veterans Foundation

- Majorie S. Holt Distinguished Government Service Award presented by the Retired Enlisted Association

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