Congressman Ryan Votes on Bill to Build Barracks at Ravenna Arsenal
Congressman Tim Ryan today voted in favor of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill. Congressman Ryan worked for the inclusion of $2 million to build barracks for the Ohio National Guard at the Ravenna Arsenal and to increase medical benefits for all military veterans. The bill increases the size of the Army and Marine Corps, allows for increased enrollments of Priority 8 veterans (veterans whose injuries are not service-related), provides veterans with advanced prosthetics and contains increases in mental health and substance abuse treatments.
"This is a great bill that I'm proud to support. Among other things, it provides enhanced medical benefits for veterans and housing assistance for a growing number of homeless veterans," said Congressman Ryan "Also, the $2 million for the construction of barracks at the Ravenna Arsenal will be one more step in transforming that facility into a first-rate training facility and an economic engine for Portage county and northeastern Ohio."
The Democratic-led 110th Congress passed three bills in 2007 that increased medical care to veterans by $11.8 billion, and recently passed a bill expanding the GI bill to provide soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan a chance to further their education. In addition, the bill includes money for more claims processors and facility improvements and $5 billion for on-going maintenance and renovations of existing facilities
"I will continue to support bills that expand benefits to those who have sacrificed to protect this nation. The education, health care and family benefits that our veterans deserve will always get my vote."