Supporting America's Heroes Year-Round

Statement

Supporting America's Heroes Year-Round

Each year on the last Monday in May, families and friends gather to remember our nation's fallen heroes and express gratitude for the brave men and women currently serving our nation. In recent months, the media and the public have focused primarily on our economy. However, we must remember the thousands of Americans who are still serving our country in Iraq and Afghanistan. Members of America's Armed Forces deserve our greatest respect; we should honor them not just on Memorial Day, but every day.

There are many ways you can show your support for our nation's service men and women year-round. Through the Let's Say Thanks organizations' website, http://www.letssaythanks.com, you can choose a greeting card design, create a message and submit your completed card; it will be printed and delivered to the troops. On the website http://www.treatsfortroops.com, you can design your own care package to send to an American service member stationed abroad. For more ideas on how to help and encourage our troops, visit the U.S. Department of Defense Community Relations website at http://www.ourmilitary.mil/help.shtml.

Since the 111th Congress convened in January, the House of Representatives has passed several bills focused on our veterans and our active-duty service members. Congress is close to approving the Supplemental Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2009 (H.R. 2346). This legislation provides necessary funds that will ensure our service men and women have the resources they need to accomplish their missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition to providing funding for equipment that protects our troops, like Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles, it also provides funding for important medical research to treat traumatic brain injuries and psychological health issues affecting those returning home. The legislation passed the House of Representatives with my support on May 14, 2009.

The week before Memorial Day, the House passed H.R. 2352, the Job Creation through Entrepreneurship Act of 2009, with strong bipartisan support. H.R. 2352 expands and improves federal resources available to entrepreneurs and those looking to open small businesses. The bill includes provisions to help returning service members prepare for successful transitions to small business. The bill also establishes a program to provide veterans and their surviving spouses with entrepreneurial training and counseling through the Veterans Business Centers program. I was pleased to vote in favor of this legislation.

In March, the House passed the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization Act (H.R. 1171), a bill that would authorize three hundred million dollars to provide employment assistance to homeless veterans. Additionally, H.R. 1171 would establish a grant program for female homeless veterans and homeless veterans with children. The grants would fund programs that provide job training, counseling, placement services and child care services. The House also approved the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act (H.R. 1513), which would increase disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and increase compensation for survivors of veterans with certain service-connected disabilities. I voted in favor of both of these bills.

If you need assistance with the federal government, as a veteran or member of the Armed Forces, please contact my office at (859) 426-0080. My staff and I are here to serve you. I will continue fighting in Congress to ensure that all our veterans and their families receive the benefits they deserve.

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