Issue Position: Veterans

Issue Position

Since his election to Congress, Congressman LoBiondo has made it his personal mission to improve health care for veterans in Southern New Jersey. In 2007, Frank LoBiondo supported the Veterans Administration budget for Fiscal Year 2008. This new legislation increases the VA's funding by $6.6 billion over the 2007 amount, the single largest increase in the 77 year history of the VA. The increased funding builds on previous increases to provide better service and health care for veterans. It includes $124 million to provide 1,800 new claims processors to help reduce the backlog in benefit claims and $480 million for medical and prosthetics research to improve the treatment and care for seriously wounded veterans. The legislation also includes $4.1 billion for the ongoing maintenance and renovation of VA facilities.

Congressman LoBiondo has fought against increased copayments for Veterans healthcare and pharmacy benefits he has also supported the Veterans Administration budget for Fiscal Year 2009 which increases the VA's funding by $6.6 billion over the 2007 amount, the single largest increase in the 77 year history of the VA.

Congressman LoBiondo has consistently supported the push for full concurrent receipt of VA disability and military pay for our nation's military retirees as co-sponsor each Congress of H.R. 303, the Retired Pay Restoration Act.

Congressman LoBiondo secured the cooperation of the Wilmington-VA to provide better health care services which allows veterans to be referred to local physicians who agree to accept VA payment for some health care services to southern New Jersey veterans and to expand the services available at the Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Cape May, Ventnor and Vineland.

Congressman LoBiondo also has held numerous enrollment clinics with the VA throughout South Jersey to encourage participation and ensure availability of service to veterans who might otherwise not be aware of their eligibilty and services.

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