With American soldiers fighting terrorists and insurgents in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the globe, the importance of honoring our country’s servicemen and women – past and present – is highlighted on this Veterans Day.

It is difficult to imagine what this nation – or the world – would be like if not for the courage of United States soldiers. When faced with danger and great adversity, the proud members of America’s armed services have never failed to protect our country and the ideals for which it stands.

We must always be keenly aware that our cherished freedoms were secured through the sacrifices of U.S. soldiers. Mindful of their heroism, we owe our veterans the respect and gratitude commensurate with this service.

Serving in the Senate, I have worked to ensure that benefits provided to the men and women who have served in our armed services are fair, well-structured and easy to access. An invaluable part of that effort has been input and advice from members of the state’s veteran community, who take time throughout the year to share their views in meetings in the state and on Capitol Hill.

A recurring message they have delivered is simple: cut out burdensome red tape to ensure that veterans receive the assistance they need as quickly as possible. Government benefits from a common sense approach, and many veterans issues are in dire need of straightforward solutions.

As part of that effort, earlier this month I introduced the “Specially Adapted Housing Grants Improvements Act of 2005” to assist disabled veterans returning home from medical facilities. Provisions of the bill, which upgrades eligibility guidelines for housing assistance grants to better reflect the needs of today’s veteran community, were approved by the Senate on November 3 in the form of an amendment I offered to the Omnibus Reconciliation bill.

Current Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rules require that a disabled veteran at least partly own their home to receive assistance for building modifications, such as installing wheelchair ramps or railings. However, many younger veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan have not yet had the opportunity to become homeowners. Being ineligible for VA help to make their homes suitable for occupancy, these veterans are compelled to either shoulder the costs of retrofitting or face extended hospital stays.

The legislation – like the Senate-approved amendment – would establish a five-year pilot program to allow severely disabled veterans who live with family to receive up to $10,000 in adaptive housing assistance; less severely disabled veterans could receive a maximum amount of $2,000. This grant money will help ensure that all disabled veterans – regardless of whether they own property – are able to leave hospitals and return home as quickly as possible.

Taking into consideration that these individuals will likely purchase a home one day, the measures would allow disabled veterans to receive two additional specially adaptive housing grants to be used in the future. Severely disabled veterans could receive up to $50,000 to retrofit residences; less severely disabled veterans would be eligible for as much as $10,000. Only one of the three total grants could be used for a temporary residence, such as a family-owned home.

Our country can do no less for disabled veterans than to expedite their return to a normal lifestyle. This bill – and the amendment – provides a practical solution to a real problem facing many veterans; Congress must act quickly to make its provisions law.

A second and pressing priority is to change Department of Defense eligibility guidelines that deny disabled military retirees the full benefits they have earned. Under current rules, disabled veterans who have served twenty or more years in the military have their retirement benefits offset by the amount of disability pay they receive.

This practice is wrong and deeply unfair to those who have given so much to our country. Once again, I have cosponsored S. 558, the “Retired Pay Restoration Act,” and will continue to strongly advocate for concurrent receipt of retired pay and disability benefits for qualifying veterans.

Finally, I have recently cosponsored S. 407, the “Keep Our Promise to America’s Military Retirees Act” – legislation that aims to provide health coverage to military retirees who served twenty years or more and entered service prior to December 7, 1956. Although recruiters promised many of these veterans lifetime care, Congressional action taken in 1956 to provide servicemen and women with coverage extended only to those individuals who began service after the previously-mentioned date.

The legislation would help ensure that military retirees who have earned health benefits through their length of service receive them. Under this bill, required Medicare Part B co-payments under TRICARE would be waived for military retirees whose careers began before the cut off date. Eligible veterans who live in areas underserved by TRICARE would have the option of electing coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. The bill also would establish a system to reimburse pharmacy expenses at TRICARE rates for military retirees who cannot access TRICARE pharmacies because of physical or medical restraints.

Out-of-date and burdensome regulations should never be an obstacle for veterans who have earned benefits through their sacrifice and service. The ongoing effort on Capitol Hill to evaluate and improve veterans programs continues, and advice from New Hampshire veterans will remain the most important voice in these endeavors today and in the future.