Veterans have secured the freedom that Americans enjoy every day. Our troops should be taken care of when we send them into battle and that they should be given the respect they have earned when they return home.

Millions of Americans joined the armed forces with the understanding that health care would be available to them when they retired. But for too many military retirees, due to lack of funding priority, there is no health care or the health care available may inadequate. The VA health care system is also chronically under funded.

Adequate federal funding is desperately needed to maintain VA Medical Centers, to deliver adequate prescription drug coverage, and to fund retirement benefits that they have earned.

Reports by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) regarding veterans:

Veterans' Health Care Issues HTML | PDF

Recently Passed Veterans Legislation:

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H.R. 612 - The Returning Servicemember VA Healthcare Insurance Act of 2007.  (Passed the House on May 23, 2007 by a vote of 419-0, Hooley voted "yes")
The Returning Servicemember VA Healthcare Insurance Act of 2007, extends from two years to five years following discharge or release the eligibility period for veterans who served in combat during or after the Persian Gulf War to receive hospital care, medical services, or nursing home care provided by the Secretary of the VA, notwithstanding a lack of evidence to conclude that their condition is attributable to such service.

H.R. 2199 - The Traumatic Brain Injury Health Enhancement and Long-Term Support Act of 2007.  (Passed the House on May 23, 2007 by a vote of 421-0, Hooley voted "yes")
Directs the VA to improve and expand its ability to provide TBI care, services, and research.  Over 40 percent of our returning servicemembers are from rural areas, and H.R. 2199 establishes an innovative program to deliver mental health care services to rural veterans and establishes an Advisory Committee to assist the VA in improving care and services for rural veterans.

H.R. 2239 - The Early Access to Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Benefit Act.  (Passed the House on May 23, 2007 by a vote of 414-0, Hooley voted "yes")
This legislation would extend Vocational Rehabilition and Employment benefits to members of the U.S. Armed Forces who are determined to have a disability incurred while on active duty of at least 10 percent or more and likely to be discharged from service due to the disability, which will allow veterans to begin their rehabilitation earlier and enter into the civilian employment market.

H.R. 1585 - The national Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008.  (Passed the House on May 17, 2007 by a vote of 397-27, Hooley voted "yes")
This bill would streamline educational assistance programs for active duty and reserve programs under the same jurisdiction, extend the eligibility period for members of the Select Reserve to receive educational assistance, and improve loan repayment assistance to servicemembers with critical skills who decided to reenlist in our Armed Forces.

This legislation would also improve the transition of servicemembers to the VA upon being retired or separated, establish the Department of Defense Medical Support Fund for the support of servicemembers returning to military or civilian life, and increase the number of resident physicians at VA hospitals.

Furthermore, it directs the VA to conduct a report on disability evaluation systems used by the DoD and VA to improve the consistency of the two disability evaluation systems, and requires the VA Secretary to conduct a study on the average length of time between desired date for which a veteran seeks to schedule an appointment for health care and the date on which an appointment is completed.

H.R. 67 - The Veterans Outreach Improvement Act of 2007.  (Passed the House on May 23, 2007 by a vote of 421-0, Hooley voted "yes")
This bill establishes a grant program for the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide to states outreach activities, cooperative relationships and benefit claims developments.  In addition, these grants would allow funding for education and training of state and local government employees for accreditation to provide outreach services, and establish local government veteran's service programs.

H.R. 1470 - The Chiropractic Care Available to All Vetrans Act.  (Passed the House on May 23, 2007 by a vote of 421-1, Hooley voted "yes")
This legislation would require the VA to expand to at least 75 medical centers by December 31, 2009, and at all medical centers by no alter than Ddecmeber 31, 2011.

H. Res. 413 - Recognizing the Service of United States Merchant Marine Veterans.  (Passed by the House by voice vote on May 22, 2007)
This resolution, on National Maritime Day, recognizes the heroic and invaluable sacrifices of United States Merchant Marine Veterans to our Nation's prosperity and safety.


Veteran Funding:

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H.R. 2642 - The Military Construction and Vetrans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2008.  (Passed the House on June 15, 2007 by a vote of 409-2, Hooley voted "yes")
This bill sends a clear message to America's servicemen and women that our veterans are a cost of war.  The bill provides for the largest increase in funding for veterans health care in the 77 year history of the VA.  The bill provides an increase of $6.7 billion over FY 2007 and $3.6 billion over Administration's request for veterans' programs.  The bill was passed by the House of Representatives and is awaiting Senate action.