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Honoring our Commitment to Veterans
By Rep. Stephanie Herseth
Since our nation’s founding more than 228 years ago, Americans have always
asked a great deal of the men and women in our Armed Forces. American
soldiers have fought to protect freedom and independence at home, preserve
the union, and plant the seeds of liberty around the world.
As Americans, we know that we would not enjoy our current freedoms without
the selfless contributions of our nation’s fighting men and women, both past
and present.
Once again, members of America’s Armed Forces are confronting dangerous
enemies abroad. We must meet our obligations to this generation of heroes
who serve and sacrifice – as well as to those of the past. This is
particularly true in the areas of health care, disability compensation, and
educational opportunities for veterans.
It is no surprise that South Dakotans consistently volunteer to serve in the
Armed Forces at a rate higher than almost any other state. South Dakotans
have always answered their nation’s call to serve, and that tradition
continues today. South Dakotans are serving honorably in Iraq, Afghanistan,
and in other posts around the world. This spirit of patriotism and
sacrifice, of course, results in a high number of veterans in our state.
I have traveled across South Dakota, meeting with the family members of
troops whose National Guard and Reserve units have been deployed. I have
listened to their ideas and concerns, which have underscored our
responsibility to honor the sacrifices their loved ones are making.
Immediately upon assuming South Dakota’s seat in Congress, I made military
and veterans’ issues a top priority. I am proud to have secured a seat on
the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction over the
responsibilities of the Veterans Administration, including veterans’ health
care, disability compensation, the G.I. Bill’s education and job training
programs, home loan guarantees, and life insurance policies.
There are specific steps that I believe we must take in order to support
America’s veterans. First, we must allow all disabled veterans to receive
their full retirement benefits, also known as “concurrent receipt.” Under
current law, partial concurrent receipt is being phased-in over the next ten
years and this is only for individuals who have a combat-related disability
of greater than 50 percent.
One of the first bills that I cosponsored upon being sworn-in to the House
is H.R. 303, known as the “Retired Pay Restoration Act.” This bill would
immediately enable all disabled military veterans to receive their full
retirement benefits and not have them deducted by the amount of their
disability benefits.
H.R. 303 currently has 383 cosponsors – far more than the 218 needed to pass
any bill through the House. Unfortunately, House Republican leadership will
not bring the bill to the floor – despite the fact that the bill is
cosponsored by more than 175 Republicans. In order to force this bill to the
floor, I have signed a “discharge petition” that would compel an immediate
vote on this bill. Disabled veterans have sacrificed the most for this
country and they are the ones that we owe the most. I will continue to fight
for passage of H.R. 303.
We must also honor and provide for the loved ones that our veterans leave
behind. I have cosponsored H.R. 548, the Military Survivor Benefits
Improvement Act. This bill would gradually increase the amount of benefits
in the basic Survivor Benefit Plan annuity for surviving spouses, age 62 and
older, of former military personnel.
To help address the health care needs of America’s veterans, I have
cosponsored H.R. 3474, the “Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees
Act.” This bill would provide federal retirement health benefits to anyone
entitled to military retirement pay and to his or her family members. This
legislation is necessary to give these veterans and their families access to
adequate health care after they have completed their years of military
service.
Finally, we must adequately fund the Veterans Administration (VA) Health
Care system. The VA operates medical facilities for veterans across the
country, including several in western South Dakota. I have visited many of
these facilities and have seen first hand the indispensable role they play
in providing health care to veterans. Specifically, we must provide better
care to core users: service-connected disabled, poor, and veterans with
special needs. Congress must provide an adequate health care budget to
enable the VA to serve the needs of sick and disabled veterans nationwide.
To ensure that these needs are met, I support guaranteed funding for the VA
health care system and have conveyed this support to Veterans’ Affairs
Committee leadership.
We must honor the promises that we have made to America’s veterans, both
those that have already served, and the new generation of veterans who are
currently serving and will be coming home soon. I am committed to seeing
that this is done.
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