Veterans
Veterans have kept their promise to serve our nation, and we must keep our promises to our veterans. The men and women who risk their lives for us must not be given first-class weapons in war only to be treated as third-class citizens when they return home from battle.
Veterans have kept their promise to serve our nation, and we must keep our promises to our veterans.
As your representative in Congress I am proud to have a long history of veterans’ advocacy. I supported additional benefits for veterans in the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 and have worked to assist veterans seeking retroactive stop loss pay and emergency payments for VA Educational Benefits. While a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I used my position to ensure that veterans and our troops received adequate support, including a pay raise in excess of the President’s request, and improved care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Though we have done much to recognize the sacrifice of our veterans, I know more must be done to provide veterans with the support they deserve. The Veterans Administration must improve healthcare delivery, better administer educational benefits and more efficiently and effectively treat veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).
My colleagues and I, under Democratic Leadership, have worked to ensure that veterans receive the resources they need and the care that they deserve. I will work to ensure that the Congress provides our Veterans with the resources, support and honor that they have earned.
Healthcare
With its facility in Baltimore, and throughout the state of Maryland, the VA saw 53,629 veterans and conducted 649,761 outpatient visits in fiscal year 2010 alone. These services are vital to our Maryland veterans and our VA centers and outpatient clinics must be adequately funded to ensure that they are maximally efficient and effective in providing the best possible coverage for our veterans.
In 2009, I supported the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act which was signed into law by President Obama on October 22, 2009. This legislation authorized the VA to receive advance funding to help plan accordingly and ensure that veterans had access to vital medical services, support and facilities. Therefore, the VA will always be able to count on receiving at least part of their annual funding to ensure services for our veterans will not be compromised due to ongoing budget discussions.
As we all know, resources alone will not ensure first-rate operations and that is why I have supported efforts in this Congress to make health care delivery better and more responsive to the needs of veterans. H.R. 1377, which I supported, and which President Obama signed into law on February 1, 2009, requires the VA to provide emergency care payments to qualifying veterans in need.
The VA healthcare system is a vital part of our veterans’ lives and the greater Maryland community. I will continue to support VA with the resources and policies necessary to ensure that all of our veterans receive the care that they deserve.
Healthcare Resources for Veterans:
VA Maryland Health Care System
Baltimore VA Medical Center
Veteran's Healthcare Resources
Housing
From the outset of the 112th Congress, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, has sought a comprehensive investigation into abuses by mortgage servicing companies, including an examination of illegal foreclosures against servicemembers. You may view my work on housing protections for our Veterans and Servicemembers here.
The New GI Bill
Our veterans have served our country with heroism and distinction, and we must honor their sacrifice as they transition back into civilian life. For this reason I cosponsored and voted in support of H.R. 5740, the Post 9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, also known as the New GI Bill, which was later signed into law by President Bush as part of the 2008 Supplemental Appropriations Act. This bill provides our veterans with the ability to attend the college or university of their choice, and permits them to transfer benefits to family members in need. While I strongly support the benefits, I have been disappointed with VA’s difficulties in implementing the program.
Notwithstanding a slow start, I am pleased that not only are resources available for those struggling to receive payments, but that processing seems to be improving. Below are resources for veterans who need help with emergency payments while awaiting VA Educational Benefits and additional resources for those seeking to claim the benefits they have earned.
Post 9/11 GI Bill Resources:
Resources for Emergency Payments
Post 9/11 GI Bill Official Site
Eligibility Determination Tool
Checklist for Students
Family Member Benefit Transfer
Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay
The Defense Department provides Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay to service members who had their enlistment extended or retirement suspended due to Stop Loss between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009. Eligible personnel receive a payment of $500 per month for each month (or any portion of a month) that the member was retained on active duty due to Stop Loss.
Service members, including members of the Reserve components, former and retired members, are eligible if they served on active duty between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009, while their enlistment was extended, or whose retirement was suspended due to Stop Loss. Service members who were discharged or released from the Armed Forces under other than honorable conditions are not permitted to receive Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay.
All applications must be submitted to the respective services no later than Oct. 21, 2011. Service members must provide documented proof they were Stop Lossed with their claim. Family members of deceased service members should contact the appropriate military service for assistance in filing their claim.
The payments will only be taxed for the period that was not served in a combat zone. For example: If a member was Stop Loss for 7 months and 5 of those months were served in a combat zone, then only 2 months of the pay will be taxed.
Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay Resources:
Army: https://www.stoplosspay.army.mil
Navy: send email to – NXAG_N132C@navy.mil
Marine Corps: https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/stoploss
Air Force: http://www.afpc.randolph.af.mil/stoploss
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD):
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) are real concerns for many veterans today. According to the Congressional Research Service, as many as 20% of returning veterans suffer from TBI. According to RAND, up to 20% of veterans suffer from PTSD. Not only do these injuries directly affect our veterans, they also contribute to the broken marriages, mental illnesses and suicides that plague our veterans today.
TBI and PTSD injuries vary in their severity and duration, and as such, VA must employ a robust strategy to detect, treat and follow-up with injured veterans. Currently, the Department of Defense is required to screen veterans after return from, and six months after, deployment. Resources for veterans suffering from PTSD/TBI are listed below.
As a member of Congress, I am grateful for the sacrifices of all our veterans, and recognize the grave responsibility of the United States Government to provide first class care for its wounded. I have been and will continue to address these important issues and support our military veterans.