Durbin Receives "A+" from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Group

Press Release

Durbin Receives "A+" from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Group

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) was given the top score, A+, for his support of veterans' issues by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) Action Fund in their 2008 Congressional Report Card. The Report Card, released earlier today, grades every Senator and Congressman on his or her leadership and voting record on key Iraq and Afghanistan veterans' issues including the GI Bill, VA funding and mental health care.

"Over the last two years, Congress has made great strides in equipping the VA with new resources to take on the challenge of caring for all veterans including those returning from Iraq and Afghanistan," said Durbin. "We've promised these brave men and women that if they take an oath to defend America, we'll stand by them when they come home. We have a responsibility to make sure they have access to the best education, health care and services available."

Key issues identified by IAVA in the Congressional Report Card included funding for the following: veterans' health care; Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles; expanded and enhanced veterans' benefits; and a strong Post-9/11 GI Bill that provided comprehensive education benefits for veterans. There were a total of nine votes on these issues in the 110th Congresses and Durbin scored points on each of them including two additional points for cosponsoring the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

Durbin recently announced Congress' approval of his legislation to help National Guard and Reserve members who are struggling financially to receive bankruptcy assistance upon returning from deployment. The National Guard and Reservist Debt Relief Act - currently awaiting the President's signature - will exempt service members from the strict entry criteria they might face when seeking bankruptcy protection. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D, IL-9) is the lead sponsor of this measure in the House of Representatives.

A copy of the 2008 Congressional Report Card can be found at the following link: http://www.iava.org/documents/legislative_agenda_08.pdf

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