Dear Friend:

As we enjoy this Memorial Day with our families and friends, we must do more than simply reflect and praise the courageous and patriotic service of those who have served in our nation’s defense. We must always make sure that our country is fulfilling its obligation to support those who have sacrificed.

Let me emphasize, as your representative, I have long supported the needs of our active-duty soldiers and veterans who have served honorably. I have worked diligently to ensure access to health care, create guaranteed funding for veterans’ health care and improve funding for special VA programs such as post-traumatic stress disorder treatment, blindness rehabilitation, spinal cord injury centers, homelessness, psychosocial rehabilitation and long-term care. It is critical that we provide the best health care and educational support for our service members and veterans if we are to fulfill our commitment to those who helped build America’s strength and security.

The 111th Congress has enacted several key pieces of legislation which have helped our veterans secure jobs, benefits and medical care. The House has passed several pieces of legislation to improve our veterans healthcare. H.R. 1017, the Chiropractic Care to All Veterans Acts will require the VA to expand veterans’ access to chiropractic care and services at their local VA facilities.  This care is intended to help veterans get necessary treatments, especially those who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and continue to report musculoskeletal ailments. H.R. 5145, the Assuring Quality Care for Veterans Act would increase the reimbursement for continuing professional education for all health care professionals employed by the VA. H.R. 3885, the Veterans Dog Training Therapy Act requires the VA to conduct a 5-year pilot program for relieving veterans’ post-deployment mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms through training service dogs for veterans with disabilities.  The program would be available in at least 3 and up to 5 VA Medical Centers for veterans who volunteer to participate in training and suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder or post-deployment mental health issues. 

 In addition to the necessary policy reforms to help our veterans that the House has pushed forward, we have also taken the time to recognize and honor their contributions. H.Con.Res.278, the Salute for Sons and Daughters in Touch supports and salutes “Sons and Daughters in Touch” on its 20th Anniversary that is being held on Father's Day, 2010, at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.  “Sons and Daughters in Touch” honor the service and sacrifice of those who died or remain missing as a result of the war in Southeast Asia and the families and children they left behind. These resolutions are important to assist in the personal remembrance of actions and sacrifices of our men and women in uniform but to also emphasize that the institutions of our republic, including the Congress and the President are forever grateful for our servicemembers and owe them deeply. These bills are currently under consideration in the Senate and I would encourage you to contact Senator Chambliss and Isakson to voice your support.

 On May 5th, President Obama signed into law the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010, to provide much needed support for the care network of America’s wounded warriors.  The new law creates an unprecedented support program for veteran caregivers that will provide training, financial assistance, and improved respite service.  It also improves health care services for America’s female veterans, expands the mental health services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and expands supportive services for homeless veterans.   

If you have a question about a veterans issue, please contact my district office at (770) 210-5073.  Also, the VA has just released the 2010 edition of the manual on benefits for Veterans, Dependants and Survivors.

Thank you for reading my newsletter. For more information during the week, you may want to keep up with the latest with my Facebook Page or connect through LinkedIn.  Have a safe weekend.

Sincerely,

 David Scott
 Member of Congress