Support for U.S. Troops Must Continue Long After the Fight

Support for U.S. Troops Must Continue Long After the Fight
By Congressman Pete Hoekstra

WASHINGTON, D.C. - As we are all very much aware, freedom is not free, and those who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces have paid the price for all of us throughout America's young history. The atrocities of Sept. 11 and the war on terror remind us of this fundamental truth.

From hitting the beaches in the Pacific and Europe in World War II, to the cold and rugged terrain in Korea, the jungles of Vietnam and now the desert sands of Iraq and Afghanistan, members of U.S. Armed Forces have selflessly stood in harm's way around the world as guardians of the freedoms of the American people.

The approaching 60th anniversary of D-Day along with Memorial Day and the official dedication of the World War II memorial on the National Mall provides us with an opportunity to reflect on the service of our nation's veterans and the nation's obligation to them.

It is the duty of Americans to honor the 24 million living veterans who have made enormous personal sacrifices defending the principles of our democracy, especially those who daily carry the scars of battle. They have answered the nation's call of duty with dignity, with courage and with great honor.

These brave men and women deserve our respect, gratitude, and when needed, our care. Sadly, too often our military personnel return home without proper recognition for their great sacrifices. We must remain committed to ensuring that every veteran is shown appreciation for the sacrifices they have made for our great nation.

The determination of Congress to support our veterans remains strong. In the past couple of years, Congress has made many significant improvements in veterans benefits, including new laws that have increased job training and placement programs, expanded access to health care services and implemented programs designed to end chronic homelessness
among veterans.

Recent significant accomplishments include:

• The Fiscal Year 2004 VA-HUD Appropriations Act provided $28.6 billion in total budgetary resources for the Veterans Health Administration, a 12 percent increase over the previous year.

• The Department of Defense authorization bill passed last November lifts the ban on the right of seriously disabled military retirees, recipients of the Purple Heart and those with combat-related disabilities to receive full retirement and disability benefits concurrently. By lifting the 1890s ban on concurrent receipt, under which a military retirees' retirement pay is reduced by a dollar for every dollar they receive in disability compensation, Congress continued to work toward ending an unfair penalty on these veterans.

• The 2005 budget passed by the House includes a $1.5 billion increase in veterans health care spending.

• The House has passed as part of the 2005 defense authorization bill a provision that will eliminate a penalty known as the "widow's tax." It changes the Social Security off-set under the Survivor Benefit Plan by eliminating the reduction that currently hits the annuity paid to the survivor of a military retiree when the widowed spouse becomes 62 years old.

• Several pending bills are furthering the debate over reimbursing veterans for visits to doctors of their choice, especially if they live some distance away from a VA facility. While these facilities are few and far between in Michigan, local doctors are in nearly every community. Forcing veterans in rural areas to drive nearly two hours just to see a doctor does not make sense.

Congress will labor to honor the service of veterans by working to provide them with better health care, enhanced access to housing and job opportunities and more generous benefits for their loved ones.

Is this support all that we would ever hope to provide for American veterans, their families and communities? No. But it is significant progress - several achievements that will encourage Congress to return and fight harder tomorrow, next month and next year.

Each year we make progress, and each year we fall short because the nation's debt to veterans cannot be met in dollars.
I look forward to continuing to work to ensure that the men and women who have served, or are serving or will serve in our nation's military are accorded the respect they deserve and the benefits and services they need.

We cannot forget that their selfless sacrifices continue to make our freedoms possible.