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This country has always been able to count on the men and women of great courage who serve in our armed forces. From the day America was founded, 48 million have worn the uniform of the United States. Approximately 26 million veterans and more than 45 million survivors and dependents of veterans live in the United States. More than 3 million veterans reside in California. Veterans, their survivors and dependents make up approximately one-third of the American population. As the chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Veterans' Affairs Committee and a Veteran myself, I strive to serve those who have served their nation.

During World War I, more than 116,000 Americans lost their lives. During World War II, more than 400,000 Americans died. In Korea, 37,000 Americans died. In Vietnam, 58,000 Americans died, and several thousand are unaccounted for. In the Persian Gulf War, 300 Americans died. I believe it is our duty to ensure that everyone who breathes the fresh air of freedom is reminded of the price paid by those who served our country.

Committed to keeping an open dialogue with veterans in my congressional district, I annually host a district veteran's forum to hear directly from veterans in the district and to allow local veterans the opportunity to network.

As a nation we have a moral obligation to provide the benefits and services that our veterans have earned through their honorable service to our nation - whether their service in uniform occurred decades ago or in the years to come. That is why I have fought to give veterans recognition for their selfless heroism and to assist veterans in achieving the greatest possible health care and educational benefits.

I support a constitutional amendment (H.J.Res 36) outlawing the burning of the American flag. Our flag is a symbol of freedom and democracy. It should not be treated with disrespect. We should remember those who fought for the flag and the values it represents. We should remember our war dead, who returned to our shores to be laid to rest, draped in the folds of Old Glory.

In the 107^th Congress I sponsored the following Veterans legislation:

H.Con.Res.86 Encourages houses of worship and other institutions to ring their bells at noon to show their solidarity and appreciation of veterans, and encourages all people to observe a moment of silence in recognition of veterans on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

H.R. 1294 Will bring greater honor and prestige to our nation's veterans who receive the Congressional Medal of Honor for by requiring the use of 90% gold in the metal content of the Medal of Honor. Supported by the American Legion, the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Retired Officers Association.

Veterans Claims Backlog Reduction Act Allows National County Veterans Service Officers to file veterans claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs in order to reduce the backlog of claims for veterans' benefits.

In the 107^th Congress I co-sponsored the following Veterans legislation:

H.R. 303 Permits retired members of the Armed Forces who have a service-connected disability to receive both military retired pay by reason of their years of military service and disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for their disability.

H.R. 442 Increases the maximum amount of home loan benefits to veterans and service members under the Department of Veteran Affairs home loan program.

H.R. 609 Provides limited authority for concurrent receipt of military retired pay and veteran's disability compensation in the case of certain disabled military retirees who are over the age of 65.

H.R. 1198 To preserve certain actions in Federal court brought by members of the United States Armed Forces held as a prisoners of war by Japan during World War II against Japanese nationals seeking compensation for mistreatment or failure to pay wages in connection with labor performed in Japan to the benefit of the Japanese nationals.

H.R. 1291 To increase the amount of educational benefits for veterans under the Montgomery GI Bill.

H.R.2820 To suspend for five years the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the copayment amount in effect for medication furnished by the Secretary on an outpatient basis for the treatment of non-service-connected disabilities.

H.R. 2886 Authorizes the award of the Purple Heart to civilian employees of the Department of Defense who are killed or wounded by a terrorist attack.

H.R. 3374 To establish a minimum pension rate for certain veterans, to ensure that veterans are living above 125% of the poverty level.

H.R. 3733 Allows for the substitution of parties in the case of a claim for benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs when the applicant for such benefits dies while the claim is pending.

H.R. 3831 To reduce the age for receipt of military retired pay for non-regular service from 60 to 55.

H.R. 4676 To provide that military retired pay for nonregular service shall be paid without regard to the age of a person otherwise eligible for such retired pay, rather than commencing when an otherwise eligible person attains age 60.

H.R. 4798 The Widows of Wartime Veterans Assistance Act of 2002, to provide an increase in the maximum annual rates of pension payable to surviving spouses of veterans of a period of war.

H.R. 5060 To provide for the disclosure of information on projects of the Department of Defense, such as Project 112 and the Shipboard Hazard and Defense Project (Project SHAD), that included testing of biological or chemical agents involving potential exposure of members of the Armed Forces to toxic agents.

H.J.Res.36 Proposes an amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.

In the 107^th Congress I voted on the following Veterans legislation:

YES	Roll # 63, H.R. 801, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, Veterans' Survivor Benefits Improvements Act of 2001. Creates new life insurance and health care benefits for up to two million eligible spouses and children of veterans.
YES	Roll # 109, H.R. 1696, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass. Expedites the construction of the World War II Memorial in the District of Columbia and puts an end to years of delays by removing the last obstacle to building a national memorial on the Mall in Washington, D.C.
YES	Roll # 158, On Passage of H.R. 4546, Department of Defense Authorization Act for FY 2003. Authorizes appropriations for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for the Armed Forces.
YES	Roll # 166, H.R. 1291, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, Veterans Education and Benefits Expansion Act of 2001. Increases the rates of Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance from $608 to $670.
YES	Roll # 185, H.R. 4085, Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, Veterans' and Survivors' Benefits Expansion Act. Provides a cost-of-living increase in the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disability and dependency, and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses of such veterans, and to expand certain benefits for veterans and their survivors.
YES	Roll # 232, On Passage of H.J.Res 36. Constitutional amendment to prohibit burning of the American flag.
YES	Roll # 277, On Passage of H.R. 5011, Military Construction Appropriations for FY 2003. Making appropriations for military construction, family housing, and base realignment and closure for the Department of Defense.
YES	Roll # 297, On Passage of H.R. 2620, Veterans Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2002. Increases total for VA programs by $3.2 billion or 7 percent more than in fiscal year 2001 including a $1.3 billion increase for VA medical care, one of the largest in history.
YES	Roll # 301, H.R. 2540, On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, Veterans' Compensation Rate Amendments of 2001. Provides a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increasing the compensation of disabled veterans and their survivors by $2.7 billion over five years.
NO	Roll # 329, On Passage of H.J.Res. 101. Disapproves the extension with respect to Vietnam of the President's authority under the Trade Act of 1974 to waive freedom of emigration requirements to make a nonmarket economy country eligible for normal trade relations, programs of credits, credit guarantees, or investment guarantees, and commercial agreements.

In the 106^th Congress I sponsored the following Veterans legislation:

H.R.3584 Provides for the use of gold in the Medal of Honor. The bill is intended to recognize veterans who have served our country with distinction.

In the 106^th Congress I co-sponsored the following Veterans legislation:

H.Con.Res.228 Honors the members of the Armed Forces and Federal civilian employees who served the Nation during the Vietnam era and the families of those individuals who lost their lives or remain unaccounted for or were injured during that era in Southeast Asia or elsewhere in the world in defense of United States national security interests

H.R.2000 Increases the minimum Survivor Benefit Plan basic annuity for surviving spouses age 62 and older.

H.R.3267 Improves benefits for members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces and their dependents.

H.R.3573 Restores health care coverage to retired members of the uniformed services.

H.R.4131 Increases the rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain disabled veterans.

In the 106^th Congress I voted on the following Veterans legislation:

YES	Roll # 112, Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree. Honoring the members of the Armed Forces and Federal civilian employees who served the Nation during the Vietnam era in defense of United States security interests.
YES	Roll # 136, H.R. 1509, Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass. Disabled Veterans' Life Memorial Foundation, to create a memorial for disabled veterans.
YES	Roll # 150, H.R. 3293, Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended. Vietnam Veterans/ Memorial Authorization. Authorizes the placement within the site of the memorial of a plaque to honor those Vietnam veterans who died after their service in the Vietnam war, but as a direct result of that service.
YES	Roll # 220, Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended, S. 1402, the Veterans and Dependants Millennium Education Act. Increases educational assistance for veterans under the Montgomery GI Bill and enhances programs providing educational benefits.
NO	Roll # 309, On Passage of H.R. 4635, the Department of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations for FY 2001. Contained deep cuts in housing and in Community Development Block Grants. Cut anti-drug programs. Provided no new funds for elderly housing, homeless assistance grants or Native American block grants.