CONGRESSMAN ED TOWNS
10TH DISTRICT, NEW YORK
E-Newsletters and Monthly Updates
10TH DISTRICT, NEW YORK
E-Newsletters and Monthly Updates
| March 2009 | |||
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As a senior member of Congress and a veteran of the United States Army, I fully appreciate our solemn responsibility to support our veterans. Those that have courageously defended our nation's freedom deserve not only our respect but our commitment to serving their health care and educational needs.
That is why I am proud to support the President's new budget, which provides $55.9 billion in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs. This new approach would augment the 1.4 billion set aside for the VA in the Recovery Act passed early this year. Below are a few highlights of the new funding;
· Dramatically increases funding for veterans health care.
· Expands eligibility for veterans’ health care to over 500,000 veterans by 2013.
· Enhances outreach and services related to mental health and cognitive injuries, including post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury.
· Invests in better technology to deliver services and benefits to veterans with the quality and efficiency they deserve.
· Provides greater benefits to veterans who are medically retired from service.
· Facilitates timely implementation of the comprehensive education benefits that veterans earn through their dedicated military service.
In addition to the new health measures, the plan addresses another critical veteran concern: homelessness. It expands the VA’s current services to homeless veterans through a collaborative pilot program with non-profit organizations. This program will help maintain stable housing for veterans who are at risk of falling into homelessness while helping the VA to continue providing them with support services.
Our veterans put their lives on the line in the service of our country, and we have a responsibility to help them lead healthy lives when they return. This budget does just that. I look forward to working with President Obama and my fellow members of Congress to continue to meet and exceed the needs and expectations of all our veterans.
Sincerely,
Edolphus “Ed” Towns
Member of Congress
New York 10th Congressional District
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