Veterans & Military Families

Our commitment to America’s veterans is equal to the full measure of devotion that our veterans committed to us. President Obama and congressional Democrats respect that allegiance and have worked to provide additional resources to the Veterans Administration (VA). We also will continue to work to make certain that coordination between the VA and the Department of Defense creates a smooth transition from active duty to civilian life—ensuring a modernized and efficient delivery of health care and pension benefits.

Our veterans have earned the best health care and benefits America has to offer, and President Obama has entrusted VA Secretary Shinseki to make sure that happens. The President and Democrats in Congress want to improve care for polytrauma, vision impairment, prosthetics, spinal cord injury, aging, and women's health.

We also will work to ensure that veterans who suffered post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of their service have access to the appropriate resources and the opportunity to recover. Because timely treatment often is critical to healing, Democrats support a swift passage of military and veterans appropriations legislation so that care is not delayed.

Far too many veterans are homeless and without access to benefits. President Obama has taken steps with the VA to work with the Department of Housing and Urban Development to fund a program, the Veterans Homelessness Prevention Demonstration Program, designed to “provide housing assistance and supportive services to veterans who might otherwise be living in homeless shelters or on the streets.” The Obama Administration also supports working with nonprofit organizations to initiate pilot programs to protect veterans who risk losing their homes.

In 1944, Democratic President Franklin Roosevelt enacted the historic G.I. Bill, initiating Democrats’ longstanding commitment to providing America’s veterans access to higher education and the promise of success as a civilian—a commitment that remains strong today. We continue to ensure the G.I. Bill has the appropriate resources to meet its goals, which also includes the full implementation of the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill—which guarantees that all post-9/11 veterans have an opportunity to earn a college education.

Recent Updates

Wednesday, March 6, 2013
See how the GOP sequester is hurting communities nationwide
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When they chose not to come to the table and stop the sequester, Republicans in Congress declared tax breaks for rich were more important than jobs or education, health care or defense. Check out—and share—http://www.gopsequester.com/ to see how the the GOP sequester is hurting communities across the country.

When they chose not to come to the table and stop the sequester, Republicans in Congress declared tax breaks for rich were more important than jobs or education, health care or defense. Check out—and share—http://www.gopsequester.com/ to see how the the GOP sequester is hurting communities across the country.
Monday, March 4, 2013
"Truly appalling"
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Our chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, just sent this email on the GOP sequester:

Friend --

Friday at midnight, the sequester went into effect -- and Republicans are counting on the possibility that you won't notice.

While it may take time for the harmful effects of these billions of dollars in automatic cuts to be felt by some Americans, some families are already starting to feel the pain -- like families on military bases.

The sequester immediately cut a program called "Impact Aid" which is a major source of funding for schools on military bases. So now military families -- including those with a family member deployed overseas -- have to worry about immediate cuts to teaching staff, increased class sizes, and delayed building repairs.

Our men and women in uniform fighting overseas shouldn't have to worry about fighting to keep their kids in school back home just because Republicans in Congress are unwilling to negotiate.

Tell congressional Republicans to come back to the table right away to negotiate with President Obama to end the sequester. Add your name now.

President Obama has laid out a balanced, fair approach to end the sequester -- and it's supported by more than three-quarters of Americans.

But Republicans won't even consider it. And the longer they refuse to come to an agreement, the more these harmful effects will spread. Teachers could be laid off, health care for military families could be cut, support for mentally ill children could be reduced, and hundreds of thousands of jobs could be lost.

It's truly appalling.

The only way Republicans will come back to the table to end the sequester is if they know it's politically unsustainable not to -- that's why they need to know that constituents like you want them to stop these devastating cuts.

Tell my Republican colleagues to do their job and end the sequester. Click below to add your name:

http://my.democrats.org/GOP-Sequester

Thanks,

Debbie

Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Chair
Democratic National Committee
Friday, January 25, 2013
"Valor knows no gender"

Posted by

Tulsi Gabbard, DNC vice chair
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Yesterday President Obama and Defense Secretary Panetta made history when they announced that at long last, more military positions, including ground combat units, will be opened to women. This is a major recognition, not only of all the women who are currently serving overseas, but of all the women who have ever worn our country's uniform. For me, that's personal.
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Today, every American can be proud that our military will grow even stronger with our mothers, wives, sisters and daughters playing a greater role in protecting this country we love. – President Barack Obama
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