Democrats are proud to stand with veterans who have endured great sacrifice to keep our nation safe and protect our freedom. When Democrats were in the White House and controlled Congress, we kept our promise to take care of our nation’s veterans, and we will continue to respond to the needs of veterans and their families.
Democrats updated the G.I. Bill for post-9/11 veterans to strengthen their access to higher education, and recently supported making the G.I. Bill a lifetime benefit for the first time in history. Democrats also expanded employment opportunities by bolstering veterans’ workforce programs and offering a tax credit to businesses that hire unemployed veterans. Democrats in Congress are working to improve health care access and treatment for veterans by cutting red tape, modernizing VA hospitals, building VA outpatient clinics in communities where veterans live, and expanding the health services available under the VA. Democrats also increased the number of VA mental health providers and social workers to meet increased demand, and expanded mental health services.
Democrats are working to eliminate the VA disability appeals backlog so that veterans can receive their benefits in a more timely manner and with fewer errors occurring. We are also taking steps to help veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses find employment, including launching the Veterans Employment Center, which provides a single location for veterans to look for well-paying jobs and utilize career resources and tools.
It is appalling that veterans have been made to wait for months to receive their G.I. Bill benefits, with some even forced to move out of their homes or face bankruptcy as a result.