By Staff
Michigan is the proud home to over 760,000 brave men and women who have worn the uniform in defense of our country.
From their service on the battlefields of World War II to the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, veterans of all generations have answered the call, and they deserve nothing less than our unwavering support.
After finishing their combat tours, veterans face a second tour of duty – a tour that requires an often complicated and difficult transition back into civilian society. Navigating a complicated maze of veterans' benefits can make this tour even more difficult.
Long drive times to clinics coupled with the inability to get certain conditions recognized and treated are just some of the challenges facing our nation's veterans. Fortunately, under a new Democratic majority, I was able to lead the effort in the Senate Budget Committee to fully fund veterans' health care for the first time.
Furthermore, my fellow Senate colleagues and I just passed the Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act of 2007. This legislation addresses the critical needs facing our nation's veterans by enhancing and increasing veterans' health care and insurance benefits while improving a number of programs that provide valuable services from housing assistance to on-the-job training.
The Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act expands the number of individuals who qualify for retroactive benefits from traumatic injury protection coverage.
This is important for all of our veterans, because we are now learning that this kind of injury happens more often that we thought and can have a devastating impact. Now veterans of any war will be eligible for traumatic injury protection coverage.
Our brave men and women also deserve the security of a roof over their heads and a safe place to call home. This legislation will expand eligibility for home improvement and structural alteration assistance to include those on active duty. This is especially important for reservists and National Guard personnel who often live far from veterans' facilities. The legislation also requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report on the need for specially adapted housing assistance.
We must also help our veterans attain the skills they need to compete in today's economy. For veterans pursuing apprenticeships or on-the-job training, this bill helps make educational assistance more available and easier to access. Too often our veterans are unable to receive educational benefits because of extended delays and layers of bureaucracy. In order to better facilitate placement in the workplace, this bill requires the VA to coordinate with the Departments of Labor and Education.
Finally, we have a responsibility not just to take care of our veterans, but to take care of their families who have also sacrificed so much for their country. This legislation ensures surviving spouses with dependent children under the age of 18 receive benefits that are consistent with the rising costs facing American families today.
Our veterans have always been there for us, and we must take the necessary steps to keep our promises to them. The Veterans Benefits Enhancement Act coupled with new funding for veterans health care are good steps in ensuring our heroes receive the services and resources they deserve, but there is still much more work to be done.
And I will continue my fight in the U.S. Senate to honor the service of our country's veterans.