Veterans
We have an obligation to care for and honor America’s servicemen and women, their families, and our veterans for their bravery and sacrifice. The new Democratic-led Congress is keeping our promises to America’s veterans. We have proven our commitment by providing the largest increase in funding for veterans health care in the VA’s 77-year history. With the VA expected to treat 5.8 million patients in the coming year—including more than 260,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans—Congress has made it a priority to fund health care and benefits that they were promised and that they deserve.
On June 19, the House passed the final GI Bill for the 21st Century, which provides a four-year college scholarship to veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. The bill was signed into law on June 30. The legislation will give our returning troops the tools to succeed when they return home, as well as strengthen our shaky economy and help rebuild our military by making service more attractive. The bill was passed as a part of the Iraq/Domestic Priorities Appropriations bill.
Learn more about the GI Bill for the 21st Century>>
The GI Bill for the 21st Century has broad-based support from all major veterans’ organizations. Educating our nation’s veterans is a cost of war, and it is a promise we should make to our troops for their courageous service to our country. Those Americans who have stepped forward to serve in Iraq and Afghanistan have earned the right to a bright future when they return home.
Watch highlights from the rally for the 21st Century GI Bill>>
Read more about the GI Bill for the 21st Century>>
Read a Progress Report on the 110th Congress for Veterans and Troops>>
60th Anniversary of Integration of U.S. Armed Forces
On July 23, Speaker Pelosi joined with House and Senate leaders in the Capitol Rotunda to commemorate President Truman’s executive order 60 years ago that marked the beginning of racial integration in the armed services. Speaker Pelosi said, “When called on their country to serve, African Americans did so with courage, honor and distinction—just as many do today. When called by conscience to serve the civil rights movement, they provided indispensable moral leadership, defended liberty, and redefined America for the better."
Read Speaker Pelosi's full speech>>
Watch a slideshow of photographs from the ceremony>>
Meeting the Needs of Returning Veterans
The 110th Congress has voted for historic increases in veterans’ health care and benefits programs, totaling nearly $12 billion, to meet the needs of returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, make up for the Bush Administration's past shortchanging of veterans, and keep the President’s proposed fee increases from hitting veterans.
Congress has fought to pass a pay raise for our troops, which the Bush Administration has opposed. President Bush threatened to veto legislation including a 3.5% pay raise for our men and women in uniform, calling it “unnecessary.”The House has passed legislation that will provide veterans with the health care and benefits they deserve, resulting in the hiring of more qualified doctors and nurses to improve medical services to our veterans and to reduce waiting times for doctor appointments, and provide more to help veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury (TBI), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and mental health care issues.
Action on veterans’ health care is crucial - there are significant problems in the military health care system and a significant rise in veterans suffering from mental disorders. More than one-third of the 230,000 new veterans who have applied for medical assistance from the Veterans’ Affairs Department suffer with mental disorders. The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations legislation provides $600 million more than the President’s request for mental health, PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury and makes five polytrauma centers and three Centers of Excellence for Mental Health and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) fully operational this year to care for those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, including those with TBI.
Speaker Pelosi, Leader Hoyer, Chairman Chet Edwards, and Rep. Nancy Boyda on the largest funding increase in the 77-year history of the Veterans Administration: