“A
man good enough to shed his blood for his country should be good enough to be
given a square deal.”
- President
Teddy Roosevelt
Congressman Weller believes we owe our veterans a great
debt of gratitude. Their sacrifices have
protected the democratic ideals that are the foundation of our country, and
their heroism continues to be an example for all Americans.
Perhaps now, more than any time in recent history, it is
important to remember that our Nation has remained strong because of those who
have fought and died for our country. It
is because we are the home of the brave that we remain the land of the free.
Congressman Weller has fought to
ensure veterans have the care they need.
His landmark legislation allowed VA outpatient clinics to partner with
local hospitals. It is because of this
legislation that a VA outpatient clinic was opened in LaSalle. Thousands of veterans in the Illinois Valley
and surrounding area no longer have to drive to Chicago
or Iowa City to
receive routine medical care.
In the 110th Congress, Rep. Weller voted to
increase veterans’ health care spending to record levels. He worked with his colleagues in Congress to
double health care funding over the last decade, and believes a new investment
in this area is needed as our World War II, Korea,
and Vietnam veterans age,
not to mention the new veterans created by the current conflict in Iraq.
Congressman Weller also introduced legislation, the Combat Military
Medically Retired Veterans Act (H.R. 243), which allows medically retired
veterans who received the Purple Heart to collect their prorated retirement
pay.
When Congress established concurrent receipt a few years
ago, 17,500 veterans who have received the Purple Heart were left out. Many of these brave men and women become severely
wounded in combat, and are forced to retire from the service. Yet despite
their sacrifice for our country, many don’t meet the current requirements to
receive benefits from both the Department of Defense and Veterans
Administration.
Under current law, medically retired veterans must have
served for 20 years to receive benefits from both the Defense Department and VA
(a feature called concurrent receipt). Weller’s legislation waives the
20-year requirement, and mandates the benefit match the time in service.
Approximately 600 additional veterans have received the
Purple Heart in the last four years and would be eligible for increased
benefits under the Weller bill. The average benefit to eligible veterans
under the legislation would be approximately $1,000 per month – a figure close
to that of Medal of Honor recipients’.
Congressman Weller believes under any
doctrine of fairness it is our moral obligation to care for "him who shall
have borne the battle." This bill is a good step in correcting the
inequity of retirement and disability benefit to our combat disabled veterans.
Rep. Weller is also the first member
of Congress to honor an Iraq
war casualty by naming a post office branch in the soldier’s honor. Congressman Weller has worked to pass
legislation honoring four local casualties of the Iraq war in this way. He believes by honoring one veteran, you
effectively honor the sacrifice of them all.
Rep. Weller is also responsible for securing passage of legislation creating the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in the former Joliet Arsenal property. It is because of Rep. Weller's Illinois Land Conservation Act of 1996 that an area which once was used for war is now a place of lasting peace for America's fallen heroes. Rep. Weller has secured more than $18 million in federal funds for Abraham Lincoln since its dedication.
