Issue Position: Veterans

Issue Position

Murphy has supported the largest veterans funding increase in history, by supporting a $6.7 billion increase for the FY 2008 budget, $3.8 billion above the President's request. This funding includes $600 million for mental health, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury. It also includes a 3.5% pay raise for our troops and increases the VA budget by $6.7 billion above the 2007 level. Murphy joined every major Veterans group in endorsing proposals that the President and his allies in Congress claimed were too expensive (H.R. 2642, H.R. 2764, Roll Call 432).

* Murphy fought for the rights of veterans to have access to voter registration efforts at VA facilities. In May, The Department of Veterans Affairs adopted a voting assistance policy that has been roundly criticized for not permitting voter registration drives. Murphy began his push to stop the VA from implementing its new policy on July 29 when he announced legislation to fix it; the bill was approved by the House Committee on Administration on July 30. With just a few days left before the House adjourned for August, Murphy crafted and passed an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2009 Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations bill on July 31 to prevent the VA from spending taxpayer dollars to obstruct voter registration at VA facilities.

* Murphy helped pass a historic investment in veterans' education. Murphy supported the "GI Bill for the 21st Century," to cover the full cost of college tuition for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. The legislation provides full tuition for their most expensive in-state public university, an annual book stipend and a monthly living stipend. This new GI Bill will also eliminate the fee that veterans must pay at the beginning of their service to receive benefits (H.R.2642, Roll No. 432).

* Murphy has consistently voted to increase veterans' healthcare benefits to give them the level of care they have earned. Murphy helped pass legislation that makes more caseworkers, doctors and counselors available to wounded veterans and raise benefits for disabled veterans to match the cost-of-living increase. He also voted against the President's effort to pay for the war in Iraq out of the pockets of sick veterans by increasing the fees associated with veterans' health care. Murphy recognizes that traumatic brain injury and PTSD are the tragic hallmarks of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and is pleased that the 110th Congress has made funding for these injuries a top priority (H.R. 1538, Roll Call 208. H.R. 5826, Roll Call 348. S.Con.Res. 21, Roll Call 377. H.R. 2199, Roll Call 413).

* Murphy has stood up for deployed servicemembers by voting for a bill that ensures members of the military who miss payments on loans because of overseas deployment are not penalized by credit reporting agencies. He believes veterans should be treated fairly by our tax system and voted for a bill that would provide several new and extended tax benefits for veterans and increase the rate of compensation for veterans with service-related disabilities (H.R. 3685, Roll Call 1035. H.R. 6081, Roll Call 331).

* Murphy has worked to honor servicemembers from the 5th District. Many servicemembers did not receive the honors due to them for their service. Murphy has secured medals for a dozen Fifth District veterans, and his office is currently working with several other veterans to help them through the bureaucratic process to obtain their military honors.

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