Veterans Have Earned Their Benefits

August 17, 2006, Today, Americans in uniform are bravely fighting the war on terrorism all across the world. This nation asks our military personnel to make many sacrifices while defending our country, and they do it gladly and honorably. In exchange, our government promises basic necessities like health care to the brave men and women who protect us and our interests.

The courageous men and women who make up today’s Armed Forces remind us of all those who have answered the call to defend our freedoms throughout our nation’s history. In return for their service, our country has committed to, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, “care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.”

Already, more than 3,200 active duty service members and veterans of the war on terrorism have sought care from Veterans Affairs facilities in Tennessee. In total, the Volunteer State is home to more than 540,000 veterans.

Providing health care and other services to our nation’s military veterans is one of the primary responsibilities of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Unfortunately, many veterans do not realize they are entitled to services such as vocational rehab, help with home loans and housing rehabilitation. Special programs also have been established to address the concerns of disabled, minority and women veterans.

As a free society, we are indebted to the service members who keep our country safe. That’s why I am working to ensure that our veterans and military retirees receive the benefits they were promised.

In addition, I support legislation in Congress that would end chronic underfunding of health care for veterans and would ensure that military retirees can draw the retirement and disability that is due to them. I also oppose proposals that would impose new fees and higher prescription co-pays on some veterans and would increase premiums on military retirees.

My office is also open to help veterans with resolving problems with veterans’ or retiree benefits and to assist in replacing medals that were lost or simply never received.

This nation has a responsibility to care for those who have answered this country’s call to service. They have fought bravely for us. And I will keep fighting for them.

For more information on services available to veterans, contact the VA at www.va.gov or toll free at (800) 827-1000 or my Murfreesboro office at (615) 896-1986.