Honoring Our Heroes

This Memorial Day, as we pay tribute to all the brave heroes we have lost fighting for our country, we must also remember the debt we owe to those veterans who return home.

For many of the brave men and women who have fought on the frontlines, returning home means trying to navigate a complicated and bureaucratic Veterans Administration benefits system.

The VA's passive system forces veterans to figure out on their own what benefits they are eligible for. It is outrageous that after all these brave men and women have done for our country that our government allows so many of them to fall through the cracks.

Currently, more than 720,000 of our veterans do not take advantage of the VA benefits they are eligible for. We must do a better job of making sure the brave men and women who serve our country get the benefits they have earned and deserve.

That's why, last week, I introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate that puts the onus on the Veterans Affairs Department to make it easier, quicker and more efficient for veterans to get help.

My bill, called the Providing Real Outreach to Veterans (PRO-VETS) Act, would require the VA and Department of Defense to work together for a seamless transfer of information between their offices.

President Obama has begun the effort to simplify this process by requiring the Department of Defense to develop a universal medical record used by the Defense Department and VA, but more work needs to be done.

My legislation would ensure that every veteran's medical and other service information relevant to eligibility for veteran's benefits is swiftly and effectively transferred to the VA.

Using the information from the Defense Department, the VA would provide each exiting service member an assessment of the benefits they are likely eligible for, and a streamlined application for these benefits. This would ensure that veterans are aware of the benefits they can access, and make it quicker and easier to take advantage of them.

For example, all service members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan are currently eligible for up to 5 years of free VA health care -- regardless of whether they were injured or not. But many never claim this benefit, or only claim this when they need health care.

The PRO-VETS Act would ensure that every veteran immediately takes advantage of this important benefit, and would help prevent veterans struggling with TBI and PTSD from falling through the cracks by giving them immediate access to care. All exiting service members would also immediately be given a VA identification card and information on the nearest VA facilities to make it as easy as possible to quickly access key benefits.

One of the primary reasons I first ran for Congress was to be a voice for our troops, veterans and military families. I first introduced this legislation as a Congresswoman and will continue the fight in the Senate.

While we can never truly repay the debt we owe our heroes, the least we should do for our brave veterans is to ensure that the government takes a proactive approach to delivering the services and benefits they have earned, so they can access the care they need and so richly deserve.

 

Follow Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SenGillibrand

Comments

[whosallen]

03:48 PM on 05/31/2011

How sad it it that there always seems to be money for war but not enough to care for those who actually show up to do the work! As a Vet of Veitnam I am truly offended by the this apparent lack of caring.

[jmpurser]

09:39 AM on 05/31/2011

As a disabled veteran my personal experience with politicians is they both promise to help improve the system then the GOP cut us and the Democrats forget us.

[InnaGaddaDaVida]

08:53 AM on 05/31/2011

I was reading an article the other day from Federal News Daily that REDUCING the pay of our troops and INCREASING their deductibles and copays for Tricare (medical insurance for active duty families and retirees). Who, in their wildest nightmare would want to balance the budget on the backs of the troops. Guess that shows who really supports the troops. They just don't support them past the battlefield.

[jmpurser]

09:13 AM on 05/31/2011

America has NEVER liked to pay the TRUE cost of her wars.

[grampyajjoa]

08:44 AM on 05/31/2011

As a Vietnam vet who was exposed to Agent Orange I tried to get into the VA health system only to be denied. If it wasn't for my local VA agent who told me the government doesn't work logically but that I had to apply for compensation which when approved would get me into the health care system. With diabetes anc cancer which no one in my family suffers from, I hope to hear before I die.

[freddypudwacker]

08:28 AM on 05/31/2011

They come out and find themselves at the opening of a giant, government maze to navigate.

[Helzapoppin]

08:23 AM on 05/31/2011

This country continues to treat its veterans like garbage.

[R2D2-51]

08:23 AM on 05/31/2011

Simply put we no longer value human capital as we once did where an entry level employee new from the gate, their value added presence was appreciated by the benefits provided with your pay

[sam green 31605]

08:13 AM on 05/31/2011

Sen can you attach dental to the bill? Vets are for the most part left to the whim and mercy of confusing guidance. We get briefed that its best to get seperate dental as the coverage is mostly non-existant and costly

[Paulo1]

08:09 AM on 05/31/2011

I love Kirsten, she's my Senator and I am very proud of her. Unfortunately she is making a good argument using a broken system as a template.

Rather than worry about who qualifies for what she should take a look at the system. The only reason that Vets need 90% of the VA is to cover their medical needs. If we had Universal Health care we would not be having this debate. Vets, and everyone else, would be covered. You could then reduce the VA to a much smaller and less expensive organization that helped Vets other needs.

Sorry Kirsten, wrong solution.

[jmpurser]

09:34 AM on 05/31/2011

Yes and no. The VA and Veteran Benefits are more complex than that. I 100% agree that IF this nation had a decent health care system (by developed nation standards we do not and we don't come CLOSE!) then the need for VA Hospitals would be MINIMIZED. There are some benefits to treating Veterans centrally based on their unique needs and experiences. However that only addresses about 1/2 of the issue. Then there is disability, retraining, therapy (mental, physical, employment, etc.) and a host of other benefits. This can't be addressed by a national health care system. And here the problem with the Senator's assessment is she's too kind by FAR. The VA system is frequently not "passive" but aggressive at excluding Vets or in minimizing or cutting benefits they actually qualify for.

[November2008]

06:27 AM on 05/31/2011

You definitely have my support. I will be sure to contact my Virginia Congressmen ASAP. The response to them by our government reminds me of an old self-centered, self-serving saying "if I can't use you, I don't need you."

[Ylmaz Kaba]

04:25 AM on 05/31/2011

Once for paying it, again as a deduction in my pension.) I lost most of my teeth in an accident, and am now forced to live with only 6 teeth left. And since I'd need oral surgery before I can get dentures, it looks like I'll be eating "blender food" for the rest of my life. So there's another gap I bet this proposed bill doesn't address.
http://news12.blog.ac/2011/05/31/honoring-our-heroes/

[InnaGaddaDaVida]

08:55 AM on 05/31/2011

Advice from the VA: The bank on the corner is giving out free blenders for opening an account. There, we helped.

[Ylmaz Kaba]

04:24 AM on 05/31/2011

Kirsten has helped expand health insurance for millions of uninsured children, stood with President Obama to ensure America’s economic recovery, and secured billions of dollars to create jobs in New York and make sure New York taxpayers get their fair share.
http://news12.blog.ac/2011/05/31/sen-kirsten-gillibrand/

[white53duk]

03:20 AM on 05/31/2011

I am a 100% non-service related disabled Vet. I was turned down by Social Security 5 times before a friend told me the VA could help. I am so greatful for the medical help the VA has given, but there is still a "Catch 22" involved in the care. As being "non-service" I am not given eye, ear or dental care. And at the same time, if I buy private dental or eye care, it is considered "an asset" and would affect the amount of pension I recieve. (I would be paying twice for any care. Once for paying it, again as a deduction in my pension.) I lost most of my teeth in an accident, and am now forced to live with only 6 teeth left. And since I'd need oral surgery before I can get dentures, it looks like I'll be eating "blender food" for the rest of my life. So there's another gap I bet this proposed bill doesn't address.

[Mike Smither]

01:03 AM on 05/31/2011

Since its the politicians who decides who is going to fight they should be
responsible for their well being.Wait did I say responsible politician?Sorry I was
dreaming of another country.

[InnaGaddaDaVida]

08:58 AM on 05/31/2011

Not really, our politicians are responsible for a lot of things--not all of them supportive of our troops.

[If 6 was 9]

11:28 PM on 05/30/2011

I've heard many conflicting stories about the level of satisfaction of medical care our vets have recieved.I guess no system is perfect and there is always room for improvement.Providing quality health care for all should be one of our government's top prioritys.We are too wealthy a nation for anybody to be slipping through the cracks.Period!