VA HEALTH CARE
Provide sufficient funding for the Department of
Veterans Affairs so that the highest quality care is
available for all of Americas sick and disabled veterans.
Ensure that this nation meets the many health care and
benefits challenges facing OEF/OIF veterans, including
increased funding for suicide prevention, Traumatic
Brain Injuries and other related disabilities.
Expand programs that improve specialized care for
women veterans and ensure that they have equal access
to all VAs health-care services.
Provide necessary training to address shortfalls in
gender-specific care and mental health care services for
PTSD, Military Sexual Trauma and other needs.
Improve outreach so that all veterans - especially
female, minority and rural veterans are fully aware of
the specific health care services and benefits they have
earned.
VA BENEFITS AND COMPENSATION
Ask Congress to provide adequate resources to enable
the VBA to reduce the backlog of claims while improving
quality of benefits decisions
Encourage the Congress to use its vital oversight
authority to provide real accountability within VBA.
Call on Congress and VA to conduct further studies to
determine which disabilities, and level of disability,
adversely affect a veterans quality of life
VA and Congress should adjust the Rating Schedule to
ensure that veterans are adequately compensated.
Call on Congress to pass legislation that offers workable
solutions, not quick fixes, to the VBA system.
SEAMLESS TRANSITION
Demand a seamless transition for those men and
women serving in uniform who are transferring from
DOD to VA, this should include a truly integrated
electronic medical record that travels from wherever
care is provided the servicemember including Medical
Treatment Facilities or the Tricare network - to VA.
Call on Congress and the Administration to improve
the transition services and benefits provided to our
veterans to ensure a steady and safe return to civilian
life, including timely benefit processing, viable training,
employment and education programs
MILITARY QUALITY OF LIFE
Call on Congress to remain fully committed to
improving the quality of life for all active duty and
Reserve Component members and their families.
Fully fund all programs that enable our troops to
succeed in their mission.
Ensure our service men and women are provided
increased pay, affordable health care, and adequate
housing and work facilities for themselves and their
families.
EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT
Congress must immediately address the highest
unemployment rates among veterans in recent history
by enhancing the Post 9/11 GI Bill, including allowing
the benefit to be utilized for vocational training, On-the-
Job training, and apprenticeships.
Ask Congress to pass legislation that will strengthen
USERRA and reverse legal decisions that tended to
favor employers and undermine the Congressional
intent of the law.
Urge Congress to mandate that all agencies reach the
three percent government-wide procurement goal for
Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses, and
be required to report their procurement levels and be
held accountable if they fail to meet that benchmark.
MILITARY AFFAIRS
Seek to improve the quality of life for all active and
Reserve Component members and their families
Provide a military base-pay raise to restore full
comparability with private sector wages.
Support efforts to lower the Reserve Component
retirement pay age to 55.
Oppose any TRICARE fee increases.
DEFENSE AND HOMELAND SECURITY
Support U.S. troops and their mission to
prosecute the war on terrorism around the world.
Ensure defense funding is at a level to fully support
personnel initiatives, troop end strength requirements,
and needed weapons programs.
Halt the development and/or proliferation of nuclear
weapons or material, and urge the continued
development and deployment of a ballistic missile
defense system.
Secure U.S. borders, shorelines and all ports of entry.
POW/MIA
Achieve the fullest possible accounting of all
U.S. military personnel missing from our nations wars.
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