[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 133 (Thursday, November 18, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2058]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            VETERANS HEALTH PROGRAMS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2004

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                               speech of

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 17, 2004

  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in strong support of three 
important initiatives to improve the quality of services for our 
Nation's veterans--S. 2484; S. 2486 and H.R. 3936. Each of these 
measures improves crucial service provided by the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for our brave men and women who served.
  The VA is charged with carrying out President Abraham Lincoln's 
vision of America's veterans: ``To care for him who shall have borne 
the battle and for his widow and his orphan.'' It is important that 
Congress follow in this tradition by providing the necessary support to 
the VA as the needs of our Nation's veterans continues to change. I 
urge my colleagues to provide that support by supporting these three 
bills.
  The Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel Enhancement 
Act, S. 2484, will help retain and develop the quality professional 
staff needed to provide first-rate care to our veterans. It provides 
merit pay and other incentives to properly compensate the dedicated 
health care workers who care for our heroes.
  The Veterans' Benefits Improvements Act, S. 2486, enhances the 
educational and housing opportunities available to our veterans. It 
expands the maximum contributions veterans can make for educational 
assistance under the Montgomery GI Bill and increases the maximum 
allowable home loan guarantees for which veterans are eligible. This 
bill recognizes the vital role these programs have played in both 
repaying the sacrifices made by our veterans and in fueling the 
economic development through improved education and housing for 
veterans in our workforce.
  The Veterans Health Programs Improvement Act, H.R. 3936, authorizes 
the VA to construct an improved headquarters outside the Pentagon in 
order to better serve veterans and their families, and it provides 
assistance for homeless veterans.
  As we enact these important measures, I am hopeful that the House 
leadership will soon consider the Discharged Combat Veterans Medical 
Care Extension Act, H.R. 4438. I introduced this bill to extend 
eligibility to veterans who served in recent hostilities for hospital 
care, medical services, and nursing home care for any illness. This 
bill would be particularly helpful to veterans with symptoms similar to 
those resulting from exposure to Agent Orange and Gulf War Syndrome who 
are compelled to prove within two years of discharge that their 
injuries are directly combat-related or would otherwise lose these 
benefits.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States has a long and proud history of caring 
for our veterans. These bills follow that tradition in helping ensure 
that the Department of Veterans Affairs continues to meet our 
responsibilities to America's heroes. I urge my colleagues to support 
each of them and thank our veterans for their service and continued 
dedication to our Nation.




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