|
Stop the "GI Tax"
The American people have a strong tradition of honoring our war veterans. And Democrats have always led the fight to give our veterans what they deserve for their brave service to our country. We all may not agree with the causes of this current war in Iraq, but we all agree that the brave men and women fighting it, and their families, deserve more than we can ever give them. Now we must focus attention on our veterans and military retirees who have seen the government cut medical benefits, close VA hospitals, double tax disability payments, and more than double prescription drug co-payments, while requiring veterans to pay an annual enrollment fee of $250 to use government health services in the 2006 budget. All of these costs add up to a "GI Tax" on our soldiers and veterans. And it's time to end that "GI Tax" -- once and for all. I was proud to join House Leaders Nancy Pelosi, Ike Skelton, Lane Evans, and John Salazar on Capitol Hill to unveil the new GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century. From the original GI Bill, signed by Franklin Roosevelt, it's always been up to a grateful nation to stand up for veterans and their families. Now it's our turn -- so please help. Tell your Members of Congress to end the "GI Tax" and support the new GI Bill today!
Dear [ Decision Maker ] , We all may not agree with the causes of this current war in Iraq, but we all agree that the brave men and women fighting it, and their families, deserve more than we can ever give them. Now we must focus attention on our veterans and military retirees who have seen the government cut medical benefits, close VA hospitals, double tax disability payments, and more than double prescription drug co-payments, while requiring veterans to pay an annual enrollment fee of $250 to use government health services in the 2006 budget. All of these costs add up to a "GI Tax" on our soldiers and veterans. And it's time to end that "GI Tax" -- once and for all. The new GI Bill of Rights will improve benefits for our men and women in uniform today, while providing long overdue benefits for our veterans and military retirees. It will bolster support for our troops in harm's way, as well as their families at home. It will provide better educational, health care, and job training benefits for those who have answered the call. And it will honor the sacrifice of the National Guard and Reserve who have gone far beyond the call of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan. I urge you to end the "GI Tax" once and for all by supporting the new GI Bill for the 21st Century.
Sincerely, |
Campaign Launched: |
| Background Information |
The new GI Bill of Rights will improve benefits for our men and women in uniform today, while providing long overdue benefits for our veterans and military retirees. It will bolster support for our troops in harm's way, as well as their families at home. It will provide better educational, health care, and job training benefits for those who have answered the call. And it will honor the sacrifice of the National Guard and Reserve who have gone far beyond the call of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Among many other benefits, the new GI Bill of Rights will:
- Increase funding for VA health care, including an additional $3.2 billion over President Bush's budget for FY 2006 and an additional $10 billion over the next 10 years
- Improve mental health services, including expanding post-traumatic stress disorder services to all VA medical facilities
- Block increases in prescription drug co-payments and enrollment fees that would raise the health care costs for 2.2 million veterans
- Fully repeal the Disabled Veterans Tax, which currently forces disabled military retirees to give up one dollar of their pension for every dollar of disability pay they receive
- End the Military Families' Tax which penalizes survivors, including widows and children of those killed in combat
- Ensure an adequate number of troops and make sure they have adequate equipment, so that our troops are well protected and not stretched too thin
- Provide a $1,000 bonus to the nearly 1 million brave men and women who have served in imminent danger in Iraq and Afghanistan as a thanks for a job well done
- Modernize and enhance the GI Bill and Job Training Programs
- Assist homeless veterans with employment, and protect bonuses and special pay for those who are permanently and severely injured or wounded or killed in service
- Protect the income of our National Guard and Reservists to help the more than 40 percent of those called up who have suffered a pay cut to serve our country
- Expand military health care to provide full access to TRICARE -- the military health program -- to all members of the Guard and Reserve and their families
