Veterans

Support of our troops does not end with an honorable discharge; I stand with our men and women in uniform - reservists, active duty and veterans and I support the Retired Pay Restoration Act as introduced by Rep. Bilirakis during the 109th Congress.

Additionally, amoung others, I support the following legislation introduced in the 110 Congress.

• Benefit Rating Acceleration for Veteran Entitlements Act of 2007
  Amends titles II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) and XVI (Supplemental Security Income) (SSI) of the Social Security Act to treat as a disability for OASDI and SSI disability payment purposes any service-connected total disability, as rated and certified by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Applies the same treatment to related child's insurance and widow's and widower's insurance benefits.
• Traumatic Brain Injury Health Enhancement and Long-Term Support Act of 2007
  Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to: (1) establish a program to screen veterans eligible for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital, medical, and nursing home care for symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• To repeal the requirement for reduction of survivor annuities under the Survivor Benefit Plan by veterans dependency and indemnity compensation, and for other purposes.
• Servicemembers Credit Protection Act
  To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to protect the credit of servicemembers deployed to an overseas combat zone and to facilitate awareness of a servicemember's rights under such Act, and for other purposes.
• Amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act
  Provide relief with respect to rent and mortgage payments for members of the reserve components who are called to active duty and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a refundable credit to lessors for payments foregone by reason of such relief.
• Honor Our Commitment to Veterans Act
  To amend title 38, United States Code, to terminate the administrative freeze on the enrollment into the health care system of the Department of Veterans Affairs of veterans in the lowest priority category for enrollment (referred to as "Priority 8").
• Combat Military Medically Retired Veteran's Fairness Act
  To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide for the payment of Combat-Related Special Compensation to members of the Armed Forces retired for disability with less than 20 years of active military service who were awarded the Purple Heart.

We must ensure that our returning veterans have full access to medical care. We cannot balance the budget at the expense of the men and women who gave so much to preserve our nation. I will not allow Congress or any administration to break our commitment to our men and women in uniform. I will actively fight all efforts to reduce benefits for active duty personnel and their dependents or retirement benefits for veterans and their survivors.

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JOE ON THE ISSUES

• War In Iraq
• National Security
• Energy Independence
• Healthcare
• Environment
• Poverty
• Social Security
• Education
• Immigration
• Fiscal Responsibility
• Veterans
• 2nd Amendment - Bill of Rights

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