Veterans I believe that we owe no greater a debt than that owed to those who have fought to preserve our freedom. As such, I have made it my mission to provide top-quality care to our nation’s servicemen and women and our veterans. In order to cut through the bureaucratic red tape and facilitate the building of the new Bob Michel Outpatient VA Health Clinic, I led numerous meetings with leadership from the Department of Veterans Affairs. I am proud to announce that the new VA Health Clinic has officially opened and is bigger than the old facility, and is providing additional services that were not previously offered to veterans.
I have supported a number of bills that are designed to support our veterans, such as H.R 1627, which reaffirmed that burial at Arlington National Cemetery should be based on one’s qualifying service instead of rank or position. I voted in favor of H.R. 1383, which raised the amount of education benefits paid to certain veterans and their dependents. I also supported H.R. 1657, which increased penalties for businesses that falsely claim to be veteran or disabled veteran owned. I am also a co-sponsor of the War Memorial Protection Act, which would permit religious symbols recognizing the religious background of members of the Armed Forces at military memorials. Additionally, I co-sponsored the Military Retirees Health Care Protection Act, which is legislation that would prevent military retirees and their families from paying higher TRICARE premiums. I introduced an amendment to the Defense Appropriations Bill that will assist military families. It would allow a service member with a minor dependent – a child under the age of 19 – to request a deferment of deployment to a combat zone if their spouse is currently deployed to a combat zone. This passed the House by a voice vote. I voted in favor of HR 1540, the National Defense Authorization Act, which included important provisions that provided for an across-the-board pay raise for members of the Armed Forces, and capped future health care fee increases to cost of living adjustments. Additionally, I supported HR 2055, the Defense Appropriations bill for FY12. This bill included pay raises for military personnel, an increased funding for military equipment upgrades and health programs. As a State Representative, I served on the Veteran Affairs committee in Springfield, and I spent my time ensuring veterans had a path to the Veterans Administration that was clear of bureaucratic obstacles and red tape. You can rest assured that I will continue this effort in Washington. Additionally, if veterans are experiencing any personal problems with the VA, I encourage them to contact my district office, so that we can work to help address the matter. You can be sure that when the U.S. House debates veteran related issues, the well-being of all those who have worn the uniform will be foremost in my mind. Related Documents:
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Schock Announces 2013 Service Academy Nominations
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