Veterans

     The United States owes a debt of gratitude to the brave servicemen and women who protect our country and sacrifice their own well-being for their country. As more veterans are returning from service in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is imperative that the federal government provide our veterans with the resources they need to return to their lives at home.

     Unfortunately, despite the previous Administration’s determination to deploy our troops overseas, the Bush White House failed to provide adequate resources to our veterans’ healthcare system. The discovery of the deplorable conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center – one of the best-known military hospitals in the country – was an absolute embarrassment. To address such unforgivable, squalid conditions, the Democratic Congress, with my strong support, has provided more than $17 billion to improve and expand our veterans’ healthcare since 2007.

     The very least we can do for our veterans is provide them with a college education once they complete their service. I supported the Post-9/11 GI Bill, which helps America’s veterans pay for complete, four-year college educations. I could not be more pleased that, as a direct result of the Post-9/11 GI Bill, as many as two million veterans will be able to obtain college degrees.

     I will continue to fight to provide as many resources to America’s veterans as possible. The brave men and women who serve in our nation’s military are heroes and, while we can never fully repay them for their service, we owe it to them to try.