Issue Position: Veterans

Issue Position

The men and women who have made extraordinary sacrifices for their country are entitled to our nation's support and services. Colleen will continue to fight for veterans and ensure that they receive all they have earned.

She is committed to helping provide veterans with the quality care they require after battle, and any services they may need in order to transition back to civilian life. The GI Bill, for example, provides every returning service member with a chance to obtain a college education. Colleen supports legislation to help make veterans career-ready, by providing businesses with tax credits for hiring unemployed or injured veterans and encouraging employers to provide free on-the-job training to veterans. Colleen feels strongly that it is an honor to do everything possible to recognize and respect their service and commitment to our nation.

Legislation that Colleen cosponsored in the 112th and 113th sessions of Congress includes:

H.R. 333: Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act, which permits retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability rated less than 50 percent to receive concurrent payment of both retired pay and veterans' disability compensation, to eliminate the phase-in period for concurrent receipt, to extend eligibility for concurrent receipt to chapter 61 disability retirees with less than 20 years of service, and for other purposes.
H.R. 210: Filipino Veterans Fairness Act of 2011, which deems certain service performed before July 1, 1946, in the organized military forces of the Philippines and the Philippine Scouts as active military service for purposes of eligibility for veterans' benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. It also directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in determining eligibility under this Act, to take into account any relevant service documentation, including documentation other than the Missouri List (the list of all discharged and deceased veterans from the 20th century).
H.R.719: To award a Congressional Gold Medal to the World War II members of the Civil Air Patrol, which directs the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to arrange for the award of a single Congressional Gold Medal to honor collectively the World War II members of the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) in recognition of their military service and exemplary record during World War II. It also requires the Medal's display at the Smithsonian Institution.
H.R.2115: Filipino Veterans of World War II Family Reunification Act, which exempts children of certain Filipino World War II veterans from the numerical limitations on immigrant visas and for other purposes.

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