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To the veterans who have served so bravely in defense of our freedoms, today we say thank you for your service. November 11, 1918 marked the day major hostilities during World War I ended, and was subsequently adopted as Veterans Day in the United States. This day now gives us an opportunity to reflect on the many sacrifices made by the Armed Forces throughout our history. As members of Congress continue to address the needs of today’s soldiers and veterans, I share with you these thoughts in honor of those who have fought and died for our country.

Earlier this year, I made my third trip to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany where I met with our brave service members who were injured while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Repeatedly, I see the severity of these injuries and I know that properly caring for our returning soldiers demands far more funding than what has been allocated by previous Congresses. Since the beginning of our military engagements in the Middle East, health care for returning service members and veterans has been wholly unsatisfactory.

Under the strong leadership of Democrats, we have begun the process of providing the necessary funding to adequately address the needs of our soldiers and veterans. In May, Congress provided $5 billion for the health care needs of soldiers returning from the Middle East, including $1.8 billion for veterans enrolled in VA health care programs. This funding will ensure the Department of Defense and Veterans Administration both have the resources to provide timely and efficient case management services, especially for the young men and women who served in operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. In March, I supported legislation limiting the number of cases assigned to a physical evaluation officer, in order to ensure the utmost attention to soldiers’ needs. This proposal would also encourage accountability by establishing a toll-free number for families to report deficiencies in military medical facilities.

As nearly one in three soldiers admitted to Walter Reed Army Medical Center presents with traumatic brain injuries (TBI), we will continue to target investments to respond to these most debilitating injuries. I am pleased Congress provided $900 million specifically for TBI treatment and services to soldiers. Additionally, this year the Senate has proposed $10 million for the TBI Program, to improve services for soldiers’ families. I also supported legislation that would establish four VA facilities solely dedicated to rehabilitating and tracking the progress of soldiers with TBI. In honor of the brave men and women who suffer these injuries, I will continue to advocate for increased funding throughout the appropriations process for fiscal year 2008.

Congress must also continue to take a hard look at the current rating systems for disabled veterans, which many have described as disparate, unfair and outdated. Earlier this year, Lt. General James Terry Scott, chair of the Veterans Disability Benefits Commission (VDBC), expressed concern that the status quo is not meeting the needs of veterans and returning soldiers. The VDBC, and the Dole-Shalala Commission formed by President Bush this year in response to the deplorable conditions at the Walter Reed Annex, both agree that the dual-disability rating system through the Veterans Administration and the Department of Defense needs a permanent fix. With the commissions’ detailed recommendations in mind, I will work diligently to ensure a system that equitably compensates soldiers with service-connected disabilities, while reducing the red tape that so often compromises the ability for veterans to receive care.

As a representative to the United States Congress for nearly six years now, I have worked tirelessly to represent the interests of the active duty and retired military who call the 13th District home. On this Veterans Day, let us remember our family, friends and neighbors who have proudly worn the uniform. We are forever grateful for their service and we will continue to work persistently to ensure our nation’s veterans will want for nothing. God bless. 


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