|   
| |
Dear
Friend,
On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918, Germany signed the Armistice agreement
which formally ended World War I. The following year, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed November 11
would be celebrated as Armistice Day to remember all of those who fought and died in "the war to end
all wars." Today, we celebrate that day as Veterans Day and we consider the debt of gratitude we owe
all those brave patriots who have worn our nation's uniform and fought to defend our country so that
we may live free.
Serving
as a member of the Army Reserve for more than 20 years has given me a deep appreciation for my fellow
servicemen and women, as well as their families. I have seen firsthand the sacrifices they make to protect
our homeland and defend our allies abroad. As a Member of Congress and a veteran, I take very seriously
the responsibility we have to both our active duty troops and our veterans. Whether it is ensuring our
military operations are properly funded, defending the integrity of military awards, or making sure veterans
have access to the benefits they have earned and deserve, I am committed to assisting them both on the
battlefield and in their civilian lives.
What
I'm doing to serve those who have served
Few
things are more sacred than medals and commendations for valor awarded by our military. Sadly, some seek
to tarnish the sanctity of these awards and steal the valor associated with them by lying about military
medals. I introduced legislation which recently passed the
House that would make it a crime to "knowingly benefit" from such lies. Unlike a previous version of
the bill struck down by the Supreme Court, my bill will withstand constitutional scrutiny because the
legislation narrowly focuses on those who seek to benefit from their misrepresentations of receiving
military awards - not the lie itself. We must protect the valor of those who earned these awards without
infringing upon the constitutional rights they defended on the battlefield. The Stolen Valor
Act of 2012 will accomplish both goals.
The last thing our veterans should have
to worry about when they return home is whether or not they will have a roof over their head. Yet due
to a bureaucratic oversight, our neediest veterans do not receive the housing aid they have earned.
Unfortunately, many of them end up on the streets. Currently, the Department of Housing and Urban Development
(HUD) counts the aid and attendance benefit that disabled veterans receive as income when determining
that veteran's housing allowance. Aid and attendance is solely used for medical services and in-home
care, it is NOT actual income. HUD's current formula forces needy veterans into a higher income bracket
and denies them the housing support they need. I have introduced legislation which recently passed
the House that would correct this unjust formula so that aid and attendance is no longer counted
towards a veteran's income. This will ensure our veterans receive the housing assistance they need so
they can stay in their homes.
I am hopeful that both bills will be put to a vote in
the Senate when Congress returns to Washington.
Today, or whenever you meet a
veteran or see a young man or woman in uniform, please take the opportunity to say ‘thank you.’
It’s the least we can do. And it’s how we keep the spirit of Veterans Day alive all
year round.
God bless our military and the country they so gallantly serve.
Sincerely,
Dr.
Joe Heck
Member
of Congress
| |
