Putting Troops and Veterans First

Op-Ed

Putting Troops and Veterans First

Each year on Memorial Day, Americans remember those who have sacrificed their lives on behalf of our country. The debt owed to them is immeasurable. Their sacrifices and those of our military families are our freedom's foundation. Without the brave efforts of our military servicemembers and their families, our country would not stand so boldly, shine so brightly and live so freely.

On this Memorial Day, our brave men and women in uniform are risking their lives overseas while serving their country. As we honor the fallen who have sacrificed all in Iraq and Afghanistan, we must also take the opportunity to renew efforts to keep the promises made to our veterans. As Abraham Lincoln said, we have an obligation "to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan."

To fulfill some of those obligations to our veterans, Congress is fighting to launch a new GI Bill for a full, four-year education to make our newest veterans part of an American economic recovery, just as we had after World War II. Many of our troops have served multiple tour of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, yet their current benefits leave them paying about 30 percent of public higher education costs from their own pockets. The original GI Bill launched millions of families on a course of prosperity and set the American economy on the right course after a draining war. A new GI Bill today can help more of our returning troops achieve the American Dream of earning a college diploma.

With the support of all the major veterans organizations, this Congress has made an unprecedented commitment to veterans health care. Last year, we enacted the largest increase in veterans' heath care in our nation's history, strengthening health care for more than 5 million veterans. This year, we are building on that progress with additional funding for mental health care, traumatic brain injury care and programs to help put roofs over the heads of homeless veterans. This action is critical to meeting the needs of the 333,000 veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan this year. These returning veterans must have better care to successfully rebuild their lives here at home.

Politics and partisanship should never be a factor in our support for American veterans or troops. On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when our troops return home, we leave no veteran behind.

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