Veterans
America sends its sons and daughters to distant shores all over the world to fight for freedom. Their sacrifice is a source of pride for our nation and a source of inspiration to us all.
America sends its sons and daughters to distant shores all over the world to fight for freedom. Their sacrifice is a source of pride for our nation and a source of inspiration to us all.
President Obama's Administration fully supports our nation's veterans. The Obama Administration ensures for each veteran that the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs provide a seamless transition from active duty to civilian life, is working to fix the benefit bureaucracy, and is modernizing and maximizing health care and benefits for our nation's veterans. The Recovery Act provides the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with more than $1.4 billion to improve services to America’s Veterans, as well as one-time payments of $250 to eligible veterans and survivors to mitigate the effects of the economy. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) enables the VA to improve medical facilities and national cemeteries, to provide grants to assist states acquiring or constructing state nursing homes and extended care facilities, and to modify or alter existing facilities to care for veterans.
As a veteran of the Korean War, I understand the plight of our soldiers and am committed to ensuring that our veterans are provided the care and opportunity that they so desperately deserve and earned. I consider the G.I. bill following my service in the Korean War to be a turning point in my life. It was the G.I. Bill which transformed me from a high school dropout into a law school graduate. As such, I am committed to giving the brave servicemen and women of today the same opportunity I had to make a change. I firmly believe adequate health and medical care for our veterans are not privileges but sacred rights we must honor.
Congressman Charles B. Rangel's Legislation:
Sponsored the Hispanic American Heroes Resolution, H. Con. Res. 253 (2007)
The bill recognizes the men and women who fought and sacrificed for our nation.
Sponsored Korean War Veterans Recognition Act 2009 This bill amends title 4 of the United States Code to encourage the display of the US flag on National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day.
Voted for HR 2642 GI Bill, Funding for Midwest Flood Cleanup, Extension of Unemployment Benefits, and Other Provisions (passed House 2008) The bill provides that active duty veterans who served after September 11, 2001, are entitled to full scholarship for in-state tuition at a public university, a stipend for books and supplies, and a monthly housing stipend. It is transferable to spouses and children of service members who have served at least six years. Those who agree to serve four more may transfer 18 to 36 months.
Voted for HR 4986 Defense Authorizations Bill (passed House 2008)
This bill permits veterans who are 100 percent disabled to receive all of their retirement and disability pay.