Veterans

May 2, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Barack Obama today joined Senators Kit Bond and Barbara Boxer, and a bipartisan coalition of senators, to introduce the Honoring Our Nation's Obligations to Returning Warriors Act (HONOR Act). This legislation will improve treatment for our service members and veterans suffering with mental injuries, better prepare service members for the stress associated with combat, and increase care for military families.

Senator Barack Obama: Photo by Barack Obama campaign (CC)

Senators Ted Stevens, Pete Domenici, Lisa Murkowski, and Elizabeth Dole are also cosponsoring this legislation.    » read more »

05/05/2008 - The Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT) Wounded Veterans Internship Program was launched in September 2006. It is designed for veterans who find they are not suited physically or emotionally to a former job, or because the job is no longer available.

The Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT) Wounded Veterans Internship Program was launched in September 2006. The first veterans joined the agency in March of the following year.

The program is designed for veterans who find they are not suited physically or emotionally to a former job, or because the job is no longer available.    » read more »

5/1/2008 -- Hillary Clinton issued the following statement today, responding to a troubling Veterans Administration investigation that found Iraq War veterans suffering from Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) are not getting the adequate health care and assistance they need.

"Our brave young men and women in uniform risk their lives to protect this country, and yet the response to TBI - which has been called the signature injury of the Iraq war - has been virtually invisible. This is truly a dereliction of duty. "

"When our young men and women sign up to serve our country, we sign up to serve them. We need a President who will stand up for our servicemembers and veterans.    » read more »

May 2, 2008 -- Connecticut Governor M. Jodi Rell today visited the Hospital for Special Care in New Britain to raise awareness about a new program that screens veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan for brain injuries.

A Mild Traumatic Brain Injury or MTBI, can cause a wide range of symptoms. Problems such as memory loss, headache, insomnia and irritability can all be traced back to MTBI, yet they can often go undiagnosed because there is no obvious wound.    » read more »

More than 100 Iraq Veterans Converge on Capitol Hill Steps Tomorrow at Noon

NEW YORK - This Tuesday, more than 100 veterans from across the country will join members of Congress to rally for a 21st Century GI Bill. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation's first and largest nonpartisan organization for veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, will participate in the Capitol Hill event.    » read more »

April 24, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement on the Senate's passage of the Veterans' Benefits Enhancement Act (S.1315):

"Our veterans and service members have made incredible sacrifices for our nation, and today the Senate honored their service by providing them with the care and benefits they deserve.

Barack Obama supporters: Photo by Michael Hashizume (CC)    » read more »

4/27/2008 -- For more than a year, Hillary Clinton has been fighting to solve the housing crisis and keep American families in their homes. And she has a long record of fighting for the men and women of our Armed Forces, Reserves, and National Guard - for better health care, job opportunities, and affordable homes.

Hillary Clinton: Photo by Marc Nozell (CC)    » read more »

Announces Enhanced Veterans’ Tuition Award

April 25, 2008 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today addressed nearly 1,100 soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division as they prepare in the coming days to deploy to Iraq. The 15-month deployment will be the division headquarters' first tour in Iraq, having previously deployed to Afghanistan from 2003 to 2004 and most recently from 2006 to 2007.

New York Governor Paterson Attends Sendoff For 10th Mountain Division Soldiers At Fort Drum: NY Governor Paterson before addressing nearly 1,100 soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division as they prepare in the coming days to deploy to Iraq.    » read more »

April 22, 2008 -- Washington, DC— The following is a statement from Senators Jim Webb (D-VA), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and John Warner (R-VA):    » read more »

April 22, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, called for the resignation of Dr. Ira Katz, Mental Health Officer for the Department of Veterans Affairs, following reports that Dr. Katz was involved in efforts to cover up the number of veterans attempting suicide. Akaka sent his request by letter to Dr. Michael Kussman, VA's Under Secretary for Health.

US Army Soldier clears palm groves in Buhriz, Iraq: Photo by Staff Sgt. Stacy L. Pearsall    » read more »

April, 2008 -- Nearly 20 percent of military service members who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan — 300,000 in all — report symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder or major depression, yet only slightly more than half have sought treatment, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

Soldiers on patrol in Samarra, Iraq

In addition, researchers found about 19 percent of returning service members report that they experienced a possible traumatic brain injury while deployed, with 7 percent reporting both a probable brain injury and current PTSD or major depression.    » read more »

Landmark Study Finds 1 in 5 New Veterans Suffer from PTSD or Major Depression

04/17/08 -- NEW YORK – Today, the RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research organization, released a groundbreaking study of the mental health of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.

Car bomb, Baghdad: Photo by Jim Gordon (CC)

The historic findings highlight the barriers which prevent thousands of new veterans from accessing quality care for mental health problems and traumatic brain injuries.    » read more »

April 16, 2008 -- WASHINGTON – A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators—including Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Gordon Smith (R-Ore.), John Kerry (D-Mass.), Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.), Ken Salazar (D-Colo.), and Evan Bayh (D-Ind.)—today unveiled their plan to provide the men and women of our National Guard and Reserves with benefits that better reflect their increased service to our country.

A National Guardsman returns after extended deployment: Photo by Poppyseed Bandits (CC)    » read more »

Protecting Benefits of Americans Who Leave the Armed Forces As “Sole Survivors” After Losing All Their Siblings to War; Honors the Hubbard brothers of California-

April 16, 2008 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Representative Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) and Representative Jim Costa (D-Calif.) today introduced legislation to ensure that “sole survivors” who leave military service receive full separation benefits.

Human cost of war: Photo by Erik Abderhalden (CC)    » read more »

$75 million program to reduce the number of homeless vets nationwide; $9.4 million awarded to New York City to permanently house more than 1,000 homeless veterans

April 16, 2008 -- New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary James B. Peake and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi today announced $75 million to provide permanent supportive housing for an estimated 10,000 homeless veterans nationwide.

A homeless veteran in New York City: Photo by Jonathan Greenwald (CC)    » read more »