This is an important time for Tennessee families to remember their loved ones, neighbors and others who have served, or are serving, our country in uniform. I wanted to take a moment to update you on recent action in the U.S. House of Representatives to help honor and thank those families who have made sacrifices to serve in the Armed Forces.

• The Veterans Small Business Assistance and Service Members Protection Act, passed by the House, enhances outreach efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure veterans get the benefits they have earned and ensures veteran-owned small businesses are treated fairly in federal contracts. The bill also helps military personnel who, because of their assignments, may face disclosure, eviction or penalties for terminating contracts such as cell phones and rental leases.
• Veterans began to receive benefits this year from the new G.I. Bill, restoring the promise of a full four-year education to men and women who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families.
• The Veterans Retraining Act provides a stipend and moving assistance to veterans who have been unemployed for at least four months and are enrolled in a U.S. Department of Labor re-training program. The House passed the bill Nov. 2.
• Applications are now being accepted for special retroactive pay to service members whose enlistments were involuntarily extended or retirements delayed because of “stop loss” orders issued since Sept. 11, 2001. Those who wish to apply can find the appropriate links here. Stop loss is a military-personnel retention tool. Earlier this year, the Department of Defense announced a plan to discontinue stop loss except under dire circumstances.
• The recently-enacted Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act allows Congress to approve funding for veterans’ medical care a year in advance so the VA will have adequate time to plan for efficient and effective health care to our veterans.
• The 2010 federal budget increases the number of VA doctors and nurses, expand VA mental health screening and treatment and end the ban on enrolling modest-income veterans for VA health care.
• The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act enacted earlier this year offered businesses a tax credit for hiring out-of-work veterans, made much-needed improvements to veterans’ hospitals, and provided disabled veterans with payments of $250.
• As Chairman of the Social Security Subcommittee, I have also been interested in a recent report from the Government Accountability Office that shows progress in improving service to wounded warriors. We hope federal agencies will continue to improve on the service they provide to those who served our country. 

Our country should continue these commitments to recognize and express appreciation for the men and women who have served our country. Their dedication and the sacrifices made by them and their families have helped keep our country strong.