Support for Veterans' Bills
SUPPORT FOR VETERANS' BILLS -- (Extensions of Remarks - July 28, 2009)
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Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise before you today to express my support for several veterans' bills that are on today's legislative calendar under suspension of the rules. Before I proceed, I would first like to thank the sponsors of the legislation and the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, Mr. Filner and Mr. Buyer, for working together to bring this legislation before the House today. As the number of veterans returning from their deployments in the Global War on Terror increases, it is imperative that those of us on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and all Members of Congress, continue working to improve benefits for our veterans and ensure that they and their families receive everything that has been promised to them. I am proud to be an original Cosponsor of H.R. 3219, the ``Veterans' Insurance and Health Care Improvements Act,'' as well as H. Res. 483, which supports the goals and ideals of Veterans of Foreign Wars Day. H.R. 3219 contains numerous measures and technical corrections to modernize many of the life insurance and health care benefits that are received by disabled and non-disabled veterans. This bill also brings overdue recognition to many World War II veterans who have yet to receive their rightful recognition and benefits compensation from the United States government, including but not limited to the Flying Tigers of WWII and the Women Airforce Service Pilots of WW II (WASPs). H. Res. 483 supports the goal and ideals of Veterans of Foreign Wars Day, September 29th. Since 1899 the VFW has been advocating and fighting for the rights and benefits of our veterans, making invaluable contributions to the national dialogue surrounding how to care for those who enable us to live in safety and peace. It is also my privilege to be a cosponsor of H.R. 1293, the ``Disabled Veterans Home Improvement and Structural Alteration Grant Increase Act of 2009,'' which makes much needed increases in the amounts our service-connected disabled veterans can receive to make alterations to their homes that enable them and their families to live the most fulfilling lives possible. I would also like to thank, once again, Chairman Filner and Congressman Michaud for their bills H.R. 2770 and H.R. 3155, respectively, both of which I supported in Committee, and which represent a step in the right direction for improving veterans' benefits and care. It is my hope that the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs will continue with its spirit of bipartisan cooperation to help our nation's veterans; a spirit that is represented in all of this legislation before us today.
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