Issue Position: Veterans

Issue Position

Congressman Gerlach is proud to have received past endorsements of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) PAC, the Vietnam and Gulf War Veterans Coalition, Veterans Vision, and has previously received solid ratings from the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America for his long record of supporting the men and women who have worn our nation's uniform.

Jim has always believed that we must do everything possible to care for our servicemen and women and their families. Jim has supported a Veterans' Bill of Rights that increases funding to aid homeless vets and mandates every VA medical center in the country cover post-traumatic stress disorder to assist with our Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who suffer with this illness. Currently only about half of the VA centers cover PTSD.

Jim has voted to ensure veterans can't lose their homes to foreclosure within nine months of ending their service and voted to assist veterans transitioning into civilian life with job training grants. He has pushed legislation that would provide employers incentives to hire National Guardsmen and ensure employment stability for Guardsmen's civilian life.

National Veterans Cemetery

Jim wrote the bill to build a new national cemetery in southeast Pennsylvania that was signed into law by President George Bush in 2003. Despite a concerted effort to build the cemetery in Chester County, the final site is now located in Bucks County. The request was brought by countless local veteran organizations who sought a final resting place closer to family and loved ones.

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