Memorial Day is much more than a three-day weekend that marks the beginning of summer. It is a solemn day to remember those who died serving our country.

This Memorial Day comes at a time when many men and women in the armed forces are deployed around the globe. As a nation, we owe a debt to them and to all veterans who have served and sacrificed. As a Member of Congress and a member of the House Armed Services Committee, one of my most important responsibilities is to serve as an advocate for our service members and veterans.

As we recognize Memorial Day, I wanted to update you on efforts to ensure that our nation's veterans and service members get the health care, educational benefits and support they have earned.
 
Bringing Veterans Services Closer to Veterans

I have worked with local veterans and Senator Patty Murray to bring veterans health care closer to veterans in Northwest Washington. Local veterans have traveled too far, for too long, to get the health care they need and deserve. To fix this problem, we have been pushing for a community-based outpatient clinic to serve veterans in our area. For the past year, over 2,000 veterans have received care at a new, temporary veterans clinic in Sedro-Woolley. The VA is transitioning to a permanent location near Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon. In addition to offering primary care services, the permanent clinic will provide mental health, social work, pharmacy, eye, ear, x-ray and dental care. According to the VA, more than 6,500 veterans could eventually get care at this facility.

A New GI Bill for the 21st Century

This summer, a new GI Bill for the 21st Century will go into effect, restoring the promise of a full, four-year college education for many veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. As of May 1st, veterans can apply for a certificate of eligibility for the new education benefits at www.gibill.va.gov. New GI bill benefits will be available starting in August. The new GI Bill for the 21st Century provides up to four years of education benefits at a college or university for service members who have been honorably discharged with at least 90 days of active duty service on or after September 11, 2001. Importantly, the bill extends the time available for veterans to use their GI Bill benefits from 10 to 15 years, giving veterans more time to get the education and training they need when they need it.

Supporting Military Families Who Endured Stop Loss

Since 2001, nearly 185,000 American servicemen and women have been involuntarily kept on active duty under Department of Defense stop-loss orders. Recognizing the hardship placed on troops and their families, Congress ordered a special payment of $500 a month for any service member held under stop-loss orders at any point between October, 2008 and September, 2009. Action is underway to make the same payment apply to all service members and veterans who have served under stop-loss orders since 2001. I support efforts to recognize the sacrifices by those serving under stop-loss in all of our military services, and will work to make a retroactive bonus payment a reality.

Reform Bills Head to the President’s Desk

As Congress adjourns for the Memorial Day holiday, the following pieces of legislation are too important not to mention.  I hope that all four will be heading to the President’s desk, or already signed into law, by the time you read this.

A Credit Card Holder Bill of Rights to help ensure that consumers who play by the rules are treated fairly by their credit card companies and protected from arbitrary and retroactive interest rate increases and other unfair practices.

Defense procurement reform to ensure the oversight and accountability taxpayers deserve. If we reduce wasteful spending on over-budget weapons systems, we will have more money to support the urgent needs of our service members and their families.

The Helping Families Save Their Homes Act provides incentives to lenders, servicers, and homeowners to work together to modify loans and avoid foreclosures, protecting the most significant investment a family will ever make.

The Financial Markets Inquiry Commission will investigate the causes of the recession to help prevent a crisis like this one from happening again.

I hope this information has been helpful. Please visit www.house.gov/larsen to share your thoughts. I appreciate hearing from you.

Rick Larsen
United States Representative
Washington State, 2nd Congressional District