(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Representative Solomon P. Ortiz (D-Texas) voted today to support our troops and veterans by ensuring critical funding for veterans health services and the construction of key facilities for military training and housing.
As our troops return home from today’s conflicts, we need to provide for their health and future. This bill funds a 7.4 percent increase for veterans’ health care and benefits, including funding more than 4,000 additional VA claims processors.
“This Congress has worked hard to keep the promises our country made to our troops and veterans,” Ortiz said. “Today, we built on that record by making sure that funding for veterans health benefits keeps pace with the needs of a nation at war and never gets delayed because of political games.”
With passage of this bill, funding for veterans’ health care and benefits have been increased by 70 percent. More than 10,000 new claims processors have been hired to reduce VA case backlogs, along with 3,389 new doctors and 14,316 new nurses. One hundred forty five new community-based vet outpatient clinics and 92 new vet centers have been funded.
This legislation, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, strengthens the VA workforce to tackle claims backlogs and to process educational benefits provided through the new GI Bill enacted under Democratic leadership. And, it allows the VA to process newly eligible claims for disabilities of Vietnam veterans and their survivors due to exposure to Agent Orange. The legislation also provides new family caregiver benefits for disabled veterans.
“Our veterans have sacrificed and put their lives on the line to keep our nation safe. When they return home, it is our responsibility to make sure they have the care and support they need. In the past three years, Congress has really stepped up to fulfill those needs,” Ortiz said.
The bill also addresses critical military construction needs to train and house our troops. It accelerates the Army’s program to modernize troop housing for trainees, addresses unfunded construction requirements of our Guard and Reserve and expedites the environmental cleanup on closed military bases.
Probably because it is election time. Seriously, I don’t believe anything this guy does. He has no power when it comes to getting bills pass. Good luck to the vets, oh, I am one of them myself.
He had not choice, it was one of those bills that are popular and non-partisan. Very few politicians vote against military and veterans nationwide. What he should have done is to make sure that south Texas would get money for a VA hospital in the Valley. He has the power to have included it. He only follows the flow of the national leaders. He does not necesarily stands up for the troops and veterans.
His bill (HB 1232) sits in a sub committee on health of the Veterans Affairs Committee and does not move. It is ignored by everyone. Ortiz thinks that that is how he supports veterans in his congressional district.
The vote was 411-6.