Submitted by Tom on Thu, 2009-11-12 09:05
From the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee:
As we honor Veterans Day by paying tribute to the sacrifice made by our men and women in uniform, we are reminded of Representative Tom Latham’s long record of just saying no when it comes to standing up for America’s veterans. On everything from improving veterans’ health care benefits to providing housing vouchers for homeless vets, Latham has a long record of saying the right thing to veterans back home, only to desert them when it comes time to vote in Congress.
“While our troops pledge to leave no solider behind on the battlefield, Veterans Day reminds us of Representative Tom Latham’s long record of leaving our veterans behind when it comes time to vote for their health care, housing, and other benefits,” said Ryan Rudominer, National Press Secretary for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Our men and women in uniform deserve better than Representative Latham’s failure to match his rhetoric on Veterans Day with his votes in Congress to give our vets benefits that are worthy of their service and sacrifice for our country.”
Background
Representative Tom Latham’s long record of just saying no to America’s troops and veterans:
·
By voting no on the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2009 [H.R. 2346, #348 , 6/16/09], Representative Latham opposed setting aside $534.4 million to cover retroactive bonuses to troops affected by the military’s "stop loss" policy that involuntarily extended their service beyond their enlistment contract, between 2001 and 2008.
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By saying no to the Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 (H R 1105) [http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll086.xml], Representative Latham opposed providing 14,000 new housing vouchers to help homeless and disabled veterans.
·
By saying no to the Congressional Budget for FY 2010 (S Con Res 13) [http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll216.xml], Representative Latham opposed:
Providing a $5.6 billion increase for veterans’ health care and other services.
Ending the Bush Administration’s ban on enrolling modest-income veterans in VA health care.
Allowing Congress to provide VA medical funding a year in advance.
·
By saying no to the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act (HR 1) [http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll070.xml], Representative Latham opposed:
Helping more unemployed veterans find jobs through expanding the Work Opportunity Tax Credit.
Helping disabled veterans receiving benefits from the VA through providing a $250 one-time payment.
Improving hospitals for our troops by providing $1.2 billion to rebuild and renovate aging military hospitals and veterans' medical facilities.
Helping troops and their families keep their homes by providing $555 million to assist military homeowners, wounded warriors, and surviving spouses who have been impacted by the housing crisis.
Expanding child care for military families by providing $240 million for new child development centers on military bases across the country.
Helping wounded warriors and their families when they return from combat by providing $100 million for warrior transition complexes that provide critical services.
Reducing the backlog of VA claims processing through a $150 million investment in claims processing staff and an additional $50 million to improve the automation of VA claims processing.
Making more energy efficient DOD facilities by providing $4.2 billion to invest in energy efficiency projects on DOD facilities across the country.
Improving National Guard facilities by providing $100 million for new construction of operations and training facilities to support National Guard units around the country.