Armed Services and Veterans
Rep. Waxman is a strong supporter of our men and women in uniform and has consistently supported measures to increase benefits for members of the military. The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America recently named Rep. Waxman to their “A Team” in recognition of his unwavering support on issues facing the nation’s newest veterans.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which Rep. Waxman strongly supported, provides important investments for all of our nation’s veterans. It provides incentives for businesses to hire recently discharged veterans and expands housing assistance for disabled veterans. The legislation addresses deficiencies at aging military hospitals and VA hospitals and improves claims and benefits processing. It also invests in housing for troops and families, supports reservists in the National Guard, provides assistance to military homeowners, and funds warrior transition complexes to provide services to wounded warriors and their families.
In the 110th Congress, Rep. Waxman supported the GI Bill for the 21st Century, which was signed into law in June 2008. The measure ensures an affordable education for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and represents the largest increase in veterans’ educational funding in 60 years. Rep. Waxman also supported key measures in the 110th Congress that fully funded the Department of Veterans Affairs, providing the largest increase in veterans funding in the 77-year history of the VA. Rep. Waxman supported legislation passed during the 110th Congress to increase benefits for disabled veterans, expand suicide prevention efforts and improve treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury.
In his role as Chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee during the 110th Congress, Rep. Waxman investigated the treatment of veterans at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and other military healthcare facilities, misleading accounts from the battlefield involving the death of Corporal Patrick Tillman and the capture of Private Jessica Lynch, waste in the Department of Defense’s acquisition system, military personnel conduct waivers, and the conduct of defense contractors in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Our nation owes our veterans and military personnel a great debt, and Rep. Waxman is committed to ensuring that they receive our full support.
Looking for more information about the West Los Angeles VA facility? Click here.
Looking for more information about the investigation into the fratricide of U.S. Army Corporal Patrick Tillman? Click here.
Veterans History Project: The Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress's American Folklife Center collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand their war experiences. The project collects first-hand accounts of World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq from veterans and U.S. citizen civilians who were actively involved in supporting war efforts. For more information, or to participate and share your experiences, please click here.
