Many people do not realize just how many veterans are among us: 19,520 war veterans, 1,854 Persian Gulf veterans, 8,177 Vietnam Era veterans, 4,257 Korean Era veterans, and 6,002 World War II veterans.  In supporting the Veterans’ Opportunities Act today, I pay homage to the more than 25,000 veterans in this nation.

I am particularly proud to vote for this legislation because it takes critical steps toward strengthening the Veterans Affairs Department.  It expands payout amounts for several VA death and retirement benefits and extends coverage under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program to dependent spouses and children.  It also increases the maximum allowable annual ROTC award for benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill and expands the VA's work-study program for veterans who are students.  Moreover, the Veterans’ Opportunities Act increases funding for the automobile and adaptive equipment grant for severely disabled veterans and allows the disabled spouse or surviving spouse of a severely disabled service-connected veteran to receive special restorative training – both of these provisions are vital to many of my constituents.  Finally, this legislation makes these much-needed changes retroactive to October 1, 2000, for service members killed in the line of duty.  This language ensures that the service members killed in the terrorist attack on the USS Cole last October are covered.

I applaud the tireless efforts of the Chairman and Ranking Member on behalf of America’s veterans over the years.  They have succeeded in producing valuable legislation that will help those who need and deserve these services the most.  I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for our veterans by voting for the Veterans’ Opportunities Act.