Issue Position: Veterans' Affairs

Issue Position

Mike Capuano is an outspoken and passionate supporter of our country's veterans and their families. Long before becoming a Member of Congress, Mike learned firsthand what our veterans and their families experience on a daily basis. Mike's father, Andrew Capuano, served our country with honor and courage in World War II, and was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds suffered in combat. Andrew Capuano volunteered for the US Navy in February 1941 for fighter pilot training. After an injury prevented him from continuing his pilot training, Andrew joined the Army, signed up for the 90 day "wonder school" and became a First Lieutenant. He graduated and became part of General Patton's Third Army. He served with an Advance Team for the Combat Engineers and he became one of the first Americans wounded inside Germany. Andrew's injuries required months on board an Army Hospital ship and other facilities, and ended his dream of a military career. He was discharged with the rank of captain.

Capt. Capuano received some of the best medical care available, care specifically designed to address the needs of our soldiers, sailors, Marines, and air force members as they returned home from war. The Capuano family is forever grateful for the quality of care that Mike's father received from the VA. Today, Mike Capuano believes strongly that those "who have borne the battle" deserve the best care a grateful nation can provide.

Motivated by the legacy of service given to him by his father, Mike has co-sponsored nearly 100 veterans-related bills while in Congress. Among them, Mike drafted and sponsored a bill in the 107th Congress (H.R. 1299) to allow members of the Armed Forces to receive a tax credit in each year that they served on active duty. Mike's leadership and dedication on issues of importance to veterans and their families has been recognized year after year by national veterans' service organizations. Mike consistently earns a 100% voting record from Disabled American Veterans (DAV), and earned a grade of "A" from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) in the last session of Congress.

Mike opposed the Iraq War because he believes that force should only be used as a last resort and because he did not believe that Saddam Hussein posed an imminent threat to the United States. He would never send our men and women into harm's way rashly or needlessly. Though Mike did not support the Iraq War, he has always supported our troops -- on the battlefield, and when they return home. Mike traveled to Afghanistan and Iraq to listen to our troops and learn firsthand the challenges they face in the field, and at home.

In the House of Representatives Mike supports measures that minimize risks to our deployed troops and increases the care and assistance provided to our veterans when they return home. Mike voted:

* Against the use of stop loss orders (which involuntarily extended a soldier's active duty service after completion of his or her service obligation, and which caused great disruption and hardship to service members and their families)

* For equipping our military with the best equipment available

* For better record keeping of VA health care records, and much greater coordination in transferring Pentagon health care records (active duty troops) to the VA (veterans)

* For Senator Jim Webb's 21st Century G.I. Bill providing substantially enhanced educational and other benefits to veterans and their families

* For billions of dollars in appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs

Mike worked tirelessly with the rest of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation to stop the Veterans' Administration from closing one or more of our hospitals and health care facilities. Mike has been a powerful advocate for the Causeway Street and Dorchester community based veterans' outpatient clinics. He has actively worked to expand the services and benefits provided to our veterans and their families, and to insure safety and mission readiness of our men and women on active duty.

Care for our veterans and their families, commitment to the needs and safety of our men and women in uniform and gratitude to those "who have borne the battle" have been and will continue to be priorities for Mike.

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