[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 144 (Wednesday, October 15, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2043]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     VETERANS BENEFITS ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. TOM UDALL

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 8, 2003

  Mr. UDALL of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 
2297, the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003. This bill contains a number of 
measures for our Nation's veterans. Among those is a provision that 
will expand the Montgomery G.I. Bill program, a tried and true program 
that helps our veterans achieve their education goals. H.R. 2297 
strengthens the program by authorizing educational assistance for on-
job training in certain self-employment training programs.
  Another provision in this bill allows a re-married surviving spouse 
of a veteran to be buried next to the veteran in a national cemetery, 
based on the original marriage. An across-the-board prohibition on 
remarried spouses of veterans' burial eligibility is unfair to many of 
the dedicated women and men who spent years supporting their veteran 
spouse. A change in this policy is only fair.
  Finally, this bill eliminates the requirement that a prisoner of war 
be held for 30 days or more to qualify for presumptions of service-
connection for psychoses, anxiety disorders, frostbite residuals, and 
other diseases. Some of our bravest veterans are plagued by these life-
changing sicknesses, and they deserve fair and just compensation.
  As a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I strongly 
support strengthening benefits for our Nation's veterans, who have 
fought so bravely to protect our country. I am proud to be a cosponsor 
of H.R. 2297 and urge my colleagues to support its passage today.

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