A
NEW DIRECTION FOR VETERANS & TROOPS
A PROGRESS REPORT ON THE 110th CONGRESS
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A
top priority for the new Congress has been to fulfill our commitment to
honor our troops and veterans' service to the nation.
By
improving veterans' health care, rebuilding our military, and strengthening
benefits for our troops and military families, we are working to keep
our promises to our courageous and faithful men and women in uniform.
For
too long, officials in Washington have neglected our troops and veterans
in a time of war.
On
the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a
nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran
behind.
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Passed
By Congress
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Signed
Into Law
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STRENGTHENING
VETERANS' SERVICES |
Providing
the largest veterans' funding increase in the 77-year history of the VA,
a $6.6 billion increase in the FY 2008 budget - $3.7 billion over the
President's budget
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Strengthening
quality health care for 5.8 million patients and earned benefits for
all veterans.
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Focusing
quality care on the 263,000 veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan,
particularly those with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain
Injury
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Reducing
the 400,000 claim backlog and the 177 day average wait for veterans
to access earned benefits by adding 1,800 new claims processors.
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Providing
much-needed maintenance of VA health care facilities.
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Keeping
our commitment with the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans
(DAV), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and other major veterans' groups
strongly endorsing this historic legislation as a "major victory"
and an "impressive commitment" to our veterans.
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Addressing
the immediate health care needs of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans (including
mental health care and benefit claims) and restoring VA health facilities,
by adding $5.2 billion in FY 2007
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STRENGTHENING
BENEFITS FOR TROOPS & FAMILIES |
Providing
a pay raise, better military health care and family leave to care for wounded
soldiers |
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Giving
troops a pay raise of 3.5 percent - part of which the President calls
"unnecessary."
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Cleaning
up the scandal of inadequate care for our wounded soldiers at Walter
Reed Army Medical Center and facilities nationwide.
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Strengthening
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury care at military
facilities and preventing TRICARE health care fee increases on troops.
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Making
progress in ending the Military Families Tax on survivor benefits and
the Disabled Veterans Tax on retirement benefits for combat-related military
disabled retirees.
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Providing
Family Medical Leave for families of soldiers wounded in combat.
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VETOED
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Conducting
oversight on the Walter Reed Army Medical Center scandal, gaps in the
DOD and VA health care systems, and excessive bonuses for top VA officials.
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STRENGTHENING
THE AMERICAN MILITARY |
Rebuilding
our military readiness-at its lowest level since the Vietnam War |
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Providing
more Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles than the President,
which are proven to save lives in Iraq.
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Creating
a Strategic Reserve Readiness Fund to rapidly address military equipment
shortfalls, including Army National Guard equipment.
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Ensuring
more equipment, training, and body armor for our troops.
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Strengthening
National Guard preparedness for disaster response here at home, including
providing more equipment.
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Giving
troops adequate time at home to reduce strain on those serving multiple
deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan.
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Expanding
the number of troops to meet our national security needs.
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=Complete=Incomplete
Click
here for a .pdf of the Progress Report>>
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