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Washington DC Office:
2263 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
Ph.: 202-225-5161
Fax: 202-225-5163
District Offices:
Marin Office:
1050 Northgate Drive
Suite 354
San Rafael, CA. 94903
Ph.: 415-507-9554
Fax: 415-507-9601
Sonoma Office:
1101 College Avenue
Suite 200
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Ph.: 707-542-7182
Fax: 707-542-2745
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Legislation & Issues
Below are links to the bills written, introduced and cosponsored by Lynn in the 110th Congress. You may click on the bill number to find the actual status and summary of each legislation.
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| Veterans | | | |
| FIGHTING FOR OUR MILITARY RETIREES
SECURING BETTER BENEFITS FOR OUR VETERANS
We have a solemn responsibility to the men and women who have selflessly heeded the call to duty and bravely fought for our nation. Our nation made a promise that we would provide lifelong care for them after they returned home and that’s a promise we must keep. That’s why I am committed to supporting and honoring our veterans in every way possible.
Ultimately, our nation’s veterans should not have to fight to receive support they have been promised. That’s why I introduced H.R. 508, the Bring the Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Restoration Act, which guarantees sufficient funding for veterans’ health care every year and would provide broad physical and mental healthcare for U.S. veterans of military operations in Iraq. We can truly honor the lifelong commitment to our veterans by assuring that our investment in their health care and benefits system is permanent. With a new generation of veterans returning home from service in Iraq and Afghanistan, we need to be ready to meet the physical and mental health needs of our soldiers upon their return.
Family members play a critical role in the recovery efforts of our nation’s veterans and they should never be forced to choose between caring for their families and keeping their jobs. That’s why I introduced H.R. 3481, the Support for Injured Servicemembers Act, which amends the Family and Medical Leave Act to provide military family members six months of unpaid leave from their jobs to care for injured service members. Military family members should be able to support the men and women who are injured in service to our country without risking their jobs. Fortunately, this first-ever expansion of the Family and Medical Leave Act in its 15-year history became law in January 2008.
Despite my strong opposition to the ongoing occupation of Iraq, I have always advocated for providing our troops in the field and veterans with the support they need. That’s why I was proud to support the Fiscal Year 2009 Veterans’ Affairs Appropriations bill when it overwhelmingly passed the House. This bill would increase the Department of Veteran Affair’s (VA) budget to nearly $73 billion, building on the VA Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2008, which provided the single largest increase in funding for veterans health care in the 77-year history of the VA. By allocating critical funding to help repair veteran’s healthcare facilities, adding more than 2,100 new disability claims processors, and providing new resources to help meet the physical and mental health needs of our returning veterans, this funding will go a long way toward eliminating the problems that our veterans face in receiving the comprehensive health care they deserve.
You may have heard that the Pentagon has announced that it may increase TRICARE enrollment fees and deductibles over the next three years for military retirees under the age of 65 and their families. This change is unacceptable and will create a significant hardship for many military retirees and their families who rely on the TRICARE system for prescription drugs and medical care. That’s why I am a cosponsor of H.R. 579, the Military Retirees’ Health Care Protection Act, which would protect military retirees from large and unwarranted health fee increases, including the recently suggested increases in TRICARE fees and deductibles. Also, the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Authorization, which became law in January 2008, prohibits the Bush Administration’s proposed TRICARE fee increases. Our government should be working to improve TRICARE coverage, not forcing an even greater financial burden on our nation’s veterans.
Many of our veterans forfeited the pursuit of higher education in order to serve in their country’s military during times of war, and we must reward these men and women for this sacrifice instead of punishing them for it. That’s why I’m a cosponsor of H.R. 5470, the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, which passed as part of the emergency supplemental spending bill for Fiscal Year 2008. This bill, also known as the GI Bill for the 21st Century, provides service members with four academic years of educational assistance and benefits, including a monthly stipend, room and board, and other assistance to help cover costs associated with school. This legislation also allows unused education benefits to be transferred to spouses and children.
During the 110th Congress I have voted several times for improve benefits and increase support for our veterans, including:
• On July 30, 2007, I voted for H.R. 23, the Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act. This legislation provides $1000 monthly benefit to the thousands of honorably discharged veterans of the U.S. Merchant Marine who served during WWII or their survivors. It passed the House and has been sent to the Senate.
• On November 6, 2007, the House unanimously passed H.R. 513, the National Heroes Credit Protection Act, which would better protect the credit ratings of active duty military personnel who are activated for military service. This bill passed the House has been sent to the Senate.
• On May 20, 2008, the House unanimously passed H.R. 5554, the Justin Bailey Veterans Substance Use Disorders Prevention and Treatment Act, which would expand readjustment mental health services for veterans while extending counseling for at-risk veterans programs. This bill passed the House has been sent to the Senate.
• On July 30, 2008, I voted for H.R. 5892, the Veterans Disability Claims Modernization Act. This legislation, of which I’m a cosponsor, would modernize Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ (VA) disability claims system to improve the delivery of compensation to veterans and their families. This bill passed the House and has been sent to the Senate.
You can count on me to continue fighting for better benefits for the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country. It is time our government provides veterans with the respect and recognition they deserve for their years of service to our nation.
(updated Sept. 2008) |
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