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Veterans

Accomplishments

 

Helped POWs Get the Benefits they Deserve

In 2003, Senator Murray introduced the Francis Agnes Prisoner of War Benefits Act to help former prisoners of war. Murray named the bill after Fran Agnes, a veterans’ advocate from Everett who died in February 2003.

Key parts of the Francis Agnes Prisoner of War Benefits Act were included in the Veterans Benefits Act, which passed the Senate on November 19th and was signed into law in December 2003.

Now POWs who had been held for fewer than thirty days are eligible for benefits. In addition, now all ex-POWs are covered for dental benefits, osteoporosis and liver disease.

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Secured Survivor Benefits

The families of our service men and women make great sacrifices. That’s why Senator Murray fought a VA rule that limited the amount of unclaimed benefits a survivor could receive. The VA’s policy said that if a veteran has not received any unclaimed benefits by the time he dies, his survivors can only get 2 years of benefits.

Senator Murray supported legislation to ensure survivors receive all of the benefits they are due. This change passed the Senate in November 2003 in the Veterans’ Benefits Act and became law in December 2003.

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Health Care for North Central Washington Veterans

For years, the 26,000 veterans who live in Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Grant, Kittitas and Okanogan counties have had difficulty getting VA medical care. In November 2003, Senator Murray authored legislation that requires the VA to provide local veterans with well-trained medical staff for basic health, diagnostic and referral services.

The VA can either:

  • create a local VA hospital,

  • or enter into contracts to provide that care locally.

The bill (S.1156) passed the Senate on November 19, 2003 and was signed into law in December 2003. Now the VA will have to develop a plan for our veterans in North Central Washington, and not a moment too soon.

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Worked to Help Establish the Tahoma National Military Ceremony

Senator Murray was a early champion of Tahoma National Cemetery, dedicated September 26, 1997. Tahoma National Cemetery is a 160 acre facility located in Maple Valley, Washington. Before the Cemetery was dedicated, there were few choices in Washington state for burial. Many veteran's remains have been moved to the Tahoma Cemetery since its dedication.

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Ensured All Veterans Have Access to Military Funeral Honors

Senator Murray has a first hand appreciation for military funeral honors. For generations, the presenting of the flag and the playing of taps have represented our nation's gratitude for those who served. At the funeral of Sen. Murray's father, the presence of military funeral honors was a significant and comforting tribute. When Washington state veteran groups told Sen. Murray that some veterans' families had been denied military funeral honors, Sen. Murray began working to ensure this tribute was available for all veterans.

Senator Murray was a key legislator in enacting Section 578 of Public Law 106-65 of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2000. "Honoring Those Who Served" is the title given to the Defense Department's program provided for in the law, to provide dignified military funeral honors to veterans. Upon the family's request, the law requires that every eligible veteran receive a military funeral honors detail consisting of two or more uniformed military persons with at least one member of the veteran's parent service of the Armed Forces. The program calls for funeral home directors to request military funeral honors on behalf of the veterans' family. Veterans organization may assist in the provision of military funeral honors.

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Required the VA to Assist Veterans in Obtaining Benefits

Applying for veterans benefits can be a difficult bureaucratic process. Most veterans don't have the skills or resources to put together a well-grounded claim when seeking benefits from the VA. For that reason, it has been a traditional responsibility of the VA to assist veterans in preparing their claims for adjudication. Unfortunately, a 1999 court ruling reversed Congress' long-standing desire to have the VA assist veterans in filing claims. As a result, the system now works against veterans rather than for them as intended by Congress. It is our veterans who most need the government's help - - veterans with severe physical and mental impairments, homelessness or drug addiction - - who are now being denied assistance in preparing claims for benefits.

Recognizing the added burden on veterans created by this ruling, Senator Murray worked with her colleagues and veterans' service organizations to pass legislation to re-establish the Veterans Administration's "duty to assist" veterans in filing claims.

Specifically, in 1999 Senator Murray introduced S.1810, the "Veterans Claims and Appeals Procedures Clarification and Improvement Act," also know as the "Duty to Assist" bill. Senator Murray worked to gain additional co-sponsors to bill in the Senate (44). She also worked with Representatives in the House to pass similarly legislation in that chamber. As the bill was brought to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, it became the main veterans bill to emerge from the Committee. On October 17, 2000, the legislation passed both chambers of Congress. It was signed into law by President Clinton on November 9, 2000.

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Honoring America's Veterans

Senator Murray cosponsored a resolution honoring those who served during the Korean War. The resolution was signed into law on 5/2/2000 (P.L. 106-195). It marks the passage of 50 years since the Korean War and recognizes its extraordinary significance in our history. Most importantly, it thanks and honors the brave men and women who fought so hard to defeat the spread of Communism and preserve freedom and democracy.

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Addressing Veterans Needs

Senator Murray joined a letter to assist veterans in Washington. Everyone in the Washington delegation, signed a letter to Undersecretary of Health for VA, Dr. Thomas Garthwaite to encourage proactive screening and treatment of veterans who may have been exposed to Hepatitis C (HCV). The letter asked for a time line for implementation of the system to deal with what could be a very serious public health problem. HCV is a particularly nasty viral infection that manifests itself over 20-30 years.

Senator Murray joined a letter to urge support for an increase in the appropriation for the VA State Veterans Home construction grant program for Fiscal Year 2001 to $150 million. This letter was addressed to Senator Christopher Bond, Chairman, Subcommittee on VA-HUD, of the Senate Appropriations Committee. The funding Senator Murray secured went to open a third VA home in Washington State.