One of the most important challenges we face year after year in Congress is to ensure that veterans’ needs are met and administered at the highest levels. Throughout the past decade, Congress has built an impressive record of accomplishments on veterans’ issues, progress that will continue in our legislative and budgetary priorities for the rest of this current session.

Last week, the United States House of Representatives passed the Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (H.R. 5385).  This legislation allocates a total of more than $75 billion for all veterans’ programs, a considerable 10% increase over current levels.  These increases include $38 billion in spending for veterans’ service-connected compensation benefits and pensions, $25 billion for veterans’ medical services, $20 million for facility improvements at existing state veterans’ homes, and $412 million to fund basic medical research funding and facilities nationwide. This legislation will continue to improve quality of life for our veterans and help ensure they get the benefits they deserve.

            I am also glad to report that the bill does not contain the increased TRICARE fees for certain veterans and military retirees that were proposed by the Bush Administration earlier this year.  In fact, the legislation contains no new fees of any kind. 

The House’s action last week continues a long tradition of support for veterans funding.  Since 1995, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) budget has increased by 77%, total federal spending per veteran has increased by 79%, and spending for veterans health care has increased by 80%. This follows a 40 year period during which total veterans spending grew an average of less than 2% per year. These increases, including $70 billion in funding for the current fiscal year, have been made in the face of looming federal budget deficits, demonstrating an enduring commitment to veterans at a time when every other department except Defense is experiencing significant budget reductions. 

In the last few years, I have worked closely with members of the House Armed Services Committee to pass legislation authorizing $22 billion to provide full concurrent disability and retirement payments to disabled military retirees over the next several years. I also co-sponsored legislation that passed to repeal the social security offset on veteran survivor benefits.  We are now exploring additional possible measures to improve veteran’s compensation, including a repeal of the dependency and indemnity compensation offset from surviving spouse annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan, and expanded CRSC eligibility for combat-disabled veterans.

The need for a new Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Daviess County remains a major issue I am working to resolve. In this effort, I continue to work closely with Director Robert Morrell of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Marion, Illinois, Daviess County officials, and officials at Owensboro Medical Health Systems. I have also met with several high ranking officials here in Washington, including Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson, to strongly emphasize Owensboro’s need to localize medical care for veterans. Secretary Nicholson is now personally looking further into the situation. While Owensboro is competing with numerous other sites across the country, I am optimistic that the Department of Veterans Affairs will give our situation particular priority.

I will continue to press forward with this important endeavor, and many others, to ensure premium health care and economic stability for those Americans who stood selflessly in harm’s way to preserve our most fundamental freedoms. Those of us in elected office must never neglect our responsibilities to these heroic men, women, and their families. On this Memorial Day, I offer my deepest gratitude and respect to all those who have served.