Media Center

By Congressman Michael Turner

Last week, Our annual observance of Memorial Day is an occasion to honor the millions of men and women who have fought to keep our Nation free—and an opportunity to thank those who continue to protect and defend our country through their service in the Armed Forces.

This year marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Veterans Administration, now the Cabinet-level Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  As a member of the House Armed Services Committee and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, I have been consistently supportive of the important contributions made to our country's national security by our service members, veterans, and military retirees. The current budget for the VA contains another substantial increase, on top of prior budget increases which I supported, that have supplied the VA with the largest funding levels in its history.

During the past year, Congress passed and I supported, a number of legislative initiatives of particular importance to our veterans that the President has signed into law, including:

• The Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act (HR 1016), authorizing funding for veterans health programs a year in advance. Congress has too often failed to approve the VA’s annual budget for veterans’ healthcare prior to the start of the fiscal year. This reform protects veterans from funding delays that could adversely affect the level of care and services they need. Approximately $48 billion in advance appropriations were provided for the VA for the current fiscal year;
• The TRICARE Affirmation Act (HR 4887) clarifies that TRICARE satisfies the “minimum acceptable coverage” requirement under the new healthcare reform law Congress passed this year, so that military retirees will not be required to purchase additional health coverage beyond what they currently have;
• The Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act (S. 1963) expands mental health counseling and services for veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq, including members of the National Guard and Reserves; eliminates co-payments for catastrophically disabled veterans; and offers support services for family members and others who care for our wounded warriors.

For over a century disabled veterans, unlike virtually all other federal retirees, have been denied the right to receive both their military retired pay and their VA disability compensation. The Disabled Veterans Tax Elimination Act (HR 333), of which I am a cosponsor, will allow members of the Armed Forces who are entitled to both retirement and disability benefits, to receive full "concurrent receipt" of the benefits they have earned. I am also a cosponsor of the Agent Orange Equity Act (HR 2254), a bill that addresses another long-standing inequity with regard to benefits for Vietnam War-era veterans. This legislation would make it easier for thousands of veterans to receive the necessary care and treatment caused by their exposure to the toxic substance Agent Orange.

Throughout our history, millions of men and women have answered the call to duty and many have paid the ultimate price to defend the freedom we cherish. I encourage all Americans to join me this Memorial Day to honor all our veterans, past and present, for their service to our country and for the tremendous sacrifices that they and their families have made to protect our Nation.