Memorial Day is the day for Americans to officially honor the heroes who have fallen in service to our country, a day to pray for and remember the brave souls who have given the ultimate sacrifice.  We are the beneficiaries of those who serve and who have served to preserve the peace and freedom we enjoy.

 

As a nation, we honor the bravery of those who have fought and died for our country and recognize the tremendous sacrifices they and their families have made.  But to truly honor these heroes it is our duty as a grateful nation to not just spend the day remembering their service, but to provide the promised support and benefits to the soldiers and veterans who followed them.

 

As a new member of Congress, the opportunity to serve on the Veterans Affairs Committee working to better America's veterans programs is one of the greatest privileges I have.  I'm proud to say that the first bill I passed in the House was to increase veterans' pensions and compensation payments.

 

Last week, in response to revelations that senior Veterans' Administration officials received the most lucrative "performance" bonuses in government at a time when the VA is running a shameful claims backlog and a severe budget shortfall threatened veterans healthcare, I introduced legislation to freeze the 2007 bonuses until the disability claims backlog of 600,000 is reduced to fewer than 100,000.  Vets currently are waiting an average of 177 days for their first claim to be processed.  If a veteran is denied coverage on his or her first application, the appeal often takes up to two years. This wait is unconscionable, as is distributing lucrative bonuses while the system fails our veterans.

 

Simply put: caring for our soldiers and veterans is part of the cost of war.  This new Congress is working to ensure that those who've served are receiving the care and benefits they have earned.  We've increased funding for veterans' healthcare by 30% above last year's level, as well as more funding for disability compensation and traumatic brain injury and prosthetic research and development.

 

This is only the beginning.  As long as I am in Congress I will continue to fight to ensure that veterans and soldiers are not just honored with platitudes and proclamations, but with the resources this country owes them.

 

America will always be indebted to its men and women in uniform.  So, on this Memorial Day, I want to pay my respects to the memory of those we have lost and thank their families for their sacrifice.  And I also want to promise that as long as I serve, I will work to support current veterans and the future generations that will follow.

 

U.S. Representative John Hall, elected from the Hudson Valley's 19th District in 2006, is chairman of the House of Representatives Veterans Affairs, Subcommittee on Disability Benefits and Memorial Affairs.