(Warwick, R.I.) - Congressman Jim Langevin today voted for the $72.2 billion Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act for FY2009.

“This bill sends a clear message to America’s servicemen and women, their families, and our veterans that we all appreciate and respect their service and sacrifice,” said Langevin. “While many of these changes are long overdue, I am proud Congress has renewed its commitment to increasing education benefits for veterans and instituting critical reforms to our military health care system. It also boosts military construction so that our troops have better housing, health care and day care facilities and more effective training facilities.”

This bipartisan measure expands access to and strengthens the quality of veterans’ health care for 5.8 million patients, including 333,000 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, by:

• Increasing enrollment in VA medical care by 10 percent for veterans making as little as $28,430

• Strengthening mental health care for the growing number of veterans with PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury

• Providing veterans with advanced prosthetics, helping those who have lost limbs rebuild their lives

• Bolstering maintenance at VA medical facilities to prevent a Walter Reed-like tragedy

• Increasing gas mileage reimbursement from 28.5 to 41.5 cents per mile for veterans traveling for health care in rural areas

• Expanding access to fee-based care for veterans in areas where the VA does not offer services

Langevin is also pleased that this bill contains $600,000 to begin work on replacement of the Quonset State Airport air traffic control tower, which is used by the Rhode Island Air National Guard.  Currently, the Rhode Island Airport Corporation operates and maintains the air traffic control tower; however, it is no longer needed for commercial traffic and will be demolished. The base at Quonset State Airport supports one C-130J wing as well as many other transient aircraft that support the Air Mobility Command, and replacement of the tower is vital to their mission.

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