Kucinich on veterans issues
The following is taken from the Kucinich campaign's issues page on Veterans
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The men and women who serve the United States of America in the armed forces deserve unyielding support and appreciation from our country. On the battlefield, they pledge to leave no soldier behind; it is our duty to uphold this pledge to them at home. Our society must again show its respect for those who work for us and protect us.
Treating our servicemen and veterans with anything other than honor is not appropriate and will not be tolerated by a Kucinich Administration. The families of those in service will no longer be ignored; their needs will not be neglected. The fact that the families of many American soldiers need food stamps to survive should shame us all. The rights and welfare of the retired and disabled will no longer be an unwanted expense, but will become a responsibility of gratitude that will be honorably satisfied.
Dennis Kucinich has proven his commitment to the wellbeing of veterans throughout his career as an Ohio Congressman. In the 106th Congress, he helped to pass the Veterans' Millennium Health Care Act, H.R. 2116, which allowed for the expansion of Veterans' benefits and long term health care benefits. It also eliminated the establishment of framework for hospital closures which make it easier for the government to close important and necessary veterans' health facilities.
Kucinich supports legislation that provides the necessary services to our nation's veterans. He was a co-sponsor of H.R. 179, the "Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act," to restore health care benefits to military retirees with more than 20 years of service. More recently, he is also a co-sponsor of legislation, H.R. 303, to permit retired members of the Armed Forces with over 20 years of service and who have service-connected disabilities to receive compensation from the Department.
Something is inherently wrong with the way the current Administration is treating our veterans. They have sent troops into battle one day, and slashed their benefits the next. The Administration has made a mockery of the treatment of our veterans; ignoring their needs and slashing the Department of Veteran Affairs' budget by 27 percent. While thousands of men and women stood risking their lives in the Middle East early last month, the Bush administration cut their combat pay by one-third. Although this reduction is built into the $87.5 billion President Bush has just received, Halliburton and Bechtel have not been asked to reduce any of their enormous profits. The members of the Guard and Reserve units that are in Iraq are finding out that the separation pay which they have received for their families is also being reduced. This is a shameful dishonor and it must be stopped. It is time for soldiers and all Americans not to receive a minimum wage but a true living wage!
It was wrong to send our troops to Iraq and it is wrong to keep there them there. But it is unacceptable to be slashing their benefits! Every day more of our men and women are killed and wounded, and the Administration has no exit plan. Dennis Kucinich is the only presidential candidate with an official exit plan to this occupation which has turned into a quagmire. His plan to get the UN into Iraq and the US out will bring our troops home quickly and increase American security. Kucinich will see that no more money is spent on war profiteering while veterans lose their benefits, families live without health care, and people all over the country lose their jobs.
The White House today has turned its back on the very people who serve this country, investing instead in an $87 billion package that will only lead to more false promises, more money wasted, and more of our sons' and daughters' lives lost. It is time for this government to show some respect for these people by providing them with the support and benefits they deserve. It is time to support our troops by bringing them home now!
While Congressman Kucinich strongly opposed this war and calls for an end to the occupation in Iraq, he is committed to treating its veterans with the utmost respect and dignity, providing all of the benefits and support that they need to live comfortable, successful lives. Citizens who have risked their lives to serve their country deserve nothing less.
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