Tuesday, November 11 the United States marks the 55th Veterans Day observance. Across the nation, we will pay tribute to America’s 25 million living veterans and the more than one million who have given their lives in military service.

While Veterans Day is a time to recall the sacrifices of those who have protected our liberty and way of life, honoring America’s veterans must be an ongoing national priority which is reflected in a strong federal commitment to veterans’ needs. The past two years, Democrats in Congress have taken several steps to ensure that our obligations to the nation’s veterans are met and that veterans have increased access to the services they rightfully deserve.

The Congress in 2007 approved the largest single increase in funding in the 77-year history of the Department of Veterans Affairs. The $6.7 billion increase represents an unprecedented commitment to veterans’ care. Earlier this year, with my strong support the Congress approved an additional $3.9 billion over last year’s level. This funding will help broaden the services available to our veterans and their families, while making necessary improvements to existing veterans’ programs and facilities.

Many veterans currently experience longer than acceptable wait times when having their disability claims processed. By providing funding to hire approximately 2,100 new claims processors, the new Veterans Administration funding will significantly reduce the 390,000 claims backlog for veterans waiting for disability and other benefits. The measure also includes funding which will allow the VA to increase by 10% the enrollment of Priority Group 8 veterans, whose enrollment was suspended in 2003.

The legislation also provides needed care and attention for our brave men and women serving in Iraq in Afghanistan. The Veterans Health Administration estimates they will treat more than 330,000 veterans of these wars in the coming year, and that many of these returning service personnel will be seeking mental health treatment. The veterans bill approved by Congress dedicates $3.8 billion to specialty mental health services for veterans with mental illness and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

I have also joined with Senator Jim Webb in co-authoring the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, which expands the educational benefits available to our soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The measure has now been approved by the Congress and signed into law. The new G.I. Bill makes available to veterans educational assistance for up to four academic years, educational benefits similar to those provided to the veterans of World War II. The bill will provide veterans pursuing a degree with benefits to cover their tuition, books, fees, room and board, and a monthly stipend of $1,000, and veterans will have up to 15 years to exercise their educational assistance benefits.

I am also aware of the unique challenges facing veterans living in rural areas such as ours. The VA budget for the upcoming year provides much needed funds for increased access to local health care providers for veterans and Guard and Reserve members living far away from VA facilities in rural areas like Southwest Virginia. Additional funds in the bill will increase the mileage reimbursement the VA provides for veterans’ travel to VA hospitals to 41.5 cents per mile to more fairly reimburse veterans in rural areas for traveling expenses.

One of my highest priorities in representing Southwest Virginia is ensuring the availability of high quality, easily accessible health care for our region’s veterans. To that end, I have worked successfully with the Department of Veterans Affairs in order to establish community-based outpatient clinics in communities throughout the Ninth District. I am pleased to report that the Ninth District now has 15 veterans outpatient clinics, far more than any other Congressional District in Virginia. I am pleased to report that earlier this year, the VA approved at my urging the placement of a new veterans outpatient clinic in the Wytheville area. I expect the Wytheville clinic to open in 2009. Additionally, earlier this year, I joined Hillsville veterans at the formal dedication of the new clinic veterans clinic in Hillsville.

Additionally, I have made it my goal to build a veterans cemetery in Southwest Virginia in order to properly honor the Southwest Virginians who have served our nation in uniform. Our region does not currently have a veterans cemetery, but the need for one is great. A higher percentage of our population has served in the military than the national average; however, the nearest veterans cemetery to our region is in the Eastern part of Virginia.
In the Fall of 2006 we took the first step toward achieving that goal when, at my urging, the U. S. Congress passed legislation which the President signed directing the U. S. Army to convey 79.8 acres of land it owns to the Commonwealth of Virginia for the purpose of establishing the region’s first veterans cemetery. I am pleased to report that in September, I joined Governor Tim Kaine to formally transfer the deed to this property to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Construction of the cemetery is scheduled to begin in 2009 and to be completed in 2010.

As our country honors military veterans on Tuesday, November 11, I want to recognize and thank the men and women of Southwest Virginia who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. military. For America’s 25.9 million veterans, as well as for the 1.4 million men and women who serve in the active duty military and the 1.2 million who serve in the National Guard and Reserves, Veterans Day provides an opportunity to accept the thanks of their fellow citizens for their selfless contributions to our country. I honor the sacrifices of our servicemen and women and pledge a continued commitment to reflect in federal legislation the nation’s appreciation for the sacrifices veterans have made.

Rick Boucher is Congressman for the 9th District of Virginia, which includes the New River Valley. You can catch his Capitol Commentary regularly at the New River Voice.