Veterans
The Second Congressional District is home to over 75,000 veterans including many veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of my most important responsibilities as a member of Congress is to ensure that the men and women who served our country get the resources and health care they need and deserve. Click here for information about help and resources available for veterans and military families.
Bringing Veterans Services Closer to Veterans
Northwest Washington’s veterans have traveled too far, for too long, to get the services they need. Many veterans in our district travel up to 100 miles each way to receive medical, dental, and mental health treatment from the Seattle VA Medical Center. We need to bring veterans health care closer to veterans. That’s why I have been working hard along with many of you to bring a Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) to Northwest Washington.
In January 2007, the Veterans Administration (VA) announced that they have approved a CBOC for our district. The CBOC will provide high-quality health care to our region’s veterans without forcing them to spend an entire day in transportation gridlock and waiting rooms. I applaud the veterans of the Second Congressional District who have worked so hard to bring a CBOC to Northwest Washington.
The VA also announced that they will open a new Vet Center in Everett. VA Vet Centers provide readjustment counseling and outreach services to veterans and their families. Northwest Washington is already home to one Vet Center in Bellingham. The Everett Vet Center will bring needed services closer to home.
Delivering the Best Possible Care
The 110th Congress passed the largest increase in VA funding in 77 years - the largest single increase in the history of the Veterans Administration. If signed into law, this historic bill would give the VA resources they need to hire more qualified doctors and nurses, reduce waiting times for medical appointments and continue providing essential services to veterans across the country, including many of the over 75,000 veterans who call Northwest Washington home.
This funding would help ensure that veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury, post traumatic stress disorder, mental health issues and lost limbs get the best possible care. It also increases the VA's maintenance and repair budget to prevent the conditions uncovered at Walter Reed and other medical facilities from occurring in the VA system.
GI Bill for Life
Along with Senator Maria Cantwell, I have reintroduced the GI Bill for Life Act in the 110th Congress. This important legislation would remove the 10-year time limit currently placed on GI Bill benefits thereby improving education and job training opportunities for veterans. Under current law, the vast majority of service members contribute to the GI Bill program, but only around half take advantage of their education benefits before they expire. After leaving the military, many service members postpone going to school to support their families while others face lengthy rehabilitations from service-related injuries. The GI Bill for Life would remove the arbitrary time limit so our veterans can get valuable skills training when the time is right for them. I am working to pass this legislation so veterans can access education benefits for life.
Treating Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury
The federal government must meet the mental health needs of our military men and women, especially those returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan. We cannot repeat the misdirected healthcare policies that shortchanged service members returning from the Vietnam War. Because the onset of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) may be delayed, I supported legislation that passed the House to extend VA health insurance from 2 years to 5 years after discharge for service members who served in combat (H.R. 612). I also voted for legislation to ensure proper screening and appropriate treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury, a serious injury that is particularly widespread among veterans returning from the war in Iraq.
Fixing Concurrent Receipt
Current policy unfairly penalizes more than 60,000 survivors of those who died as a result of service-related injuries by limiting their benefits. It also penalizes disabled military retirees who must give up one dollar of their pension for every dollar of disability pay they receive. I have consistently supported legislation to fix this injustice since I first came to Congress in 2001. As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I have worked with my colleagues to fight for full funding for disabled veterans and survivors in the annual Defense Authorization bill.
Recent News
Helpful Websites
- WA Dept of Veterans Affairs
- Combat Related Special Compensation Package
- Department of Veterans Affairs
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- American Legion
- Disabled Veterans of America
- Paralyzed Veterans of America
- Vietnam Veterans of America
- National World War II Memorial
- Korean War Veterans Memorial
- Vietnam Veterans Memorial
