Supporting Our Troops and Veterans
So far this year, Congress has had a very productive session marked by bipartisan action on critical national issues, including border security, an energy policy, bankruptcy and class action reform. Congress also supported needs close to home with emergency funding to repair damage in and around the Angeles and San Bernardino National Forests caused by the winter storms and floods, and a continued commitment to clean and safe drinking water with additional funding for the San Gabriel Basin Water Restoration Fund.
Yet our first priority remains winning the Global War on Terror and supporting those who are fighting it on our behalf. Our troops on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan need and deserve the best equipment and the resources necessary to properly train Iraqi Security Forces. Military conflicts such as these create veterans, who count on the country they served to now honor their sacrifice. As a nation, we now have 3 generations of veterans who have fought for America.
Congress recognizes the service and sacrifice of our troops and veterans and strongly supports them. In early May, the Congress approved and the President signed an emergency supplemental appropriations bill for ongoing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. On May 26, 2005, the House passed its first-ever Military Quality of Life funding bill dedicated specifically to supporting the livelihood of our past and present service members. This bill provides an extra $1 billion for veterans' medical care – an increase of 18 percent over the past two years. The House also voted to give every service member a 3.1 percent pay increase, which brings the total basic pay increase since 2001 to nearly 25 percent. Congress is also providing the funds necessary to equip our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan with force protection measures, such as up-armored Humvees and next-generation body armor.
Additionally, to honor the legacy and capture the stories of our veterans, I was proud to announce our second annual Veterans History Project, which began on June 17. Through July 29, my staff and I will be collecting personal histories on video tape, as well as letters, photographs, diaries and other materials. Everything collected will be sent to the Library of Congress.
If you are a veteran and would like to participate in this project, please call my Glendora District Office at (626) 852-2626. We look forward to meeting with many veterans and hearing the stories of the men and women who served our country so nobly.
