Honoring The Promises Made To Our Military Men And Women

May 23, 2006, In our nation’s capital, some of the most moving monuments carry solemn phrases about sacrifice. The Korean War Veterans Memorial bears the words, “Freedom Is Not Free,” while the World War II Memorial honors the more than 400,000 Americans who died in the war with the inscription, “Here We Mark the Price of Freedom.”

Our freedom should not be taken for granted. Since the American Revolution, this country has faced many enemies and obstacles standing in the way of our freedom. But we have always persevered. At the forefront of this stand with democracy have been the brave men and women who have gone in harm’s way to serve our country.

We owe the men and women of the United States armed forces a huge debt of gratitude. One way we can show our appreciation is by keeping the promise this country made to care for them when they return home from service.

My father served in the Air Force during World War II, and my uncle served in the Army. They taught me important lessons about duty, honor and commitment. That’s why I’ve worked hard in Congress to make sure the Department of Veterans Affairs honors the commitments that were made to our veterans. Among other things, they should receive the best health care this nation has to offer.

But veterans in Middle Tennessee have told me about having to endure long waits for basic services. Nurses and other employees at the VA have echoed these complaints.

Underfunding of VA facilities has resulted in significant waiting lists for veterans entering the system. Even severely disabled veterans must wait for health care services. VA hospitals are absorbing cuts they can’t afford, and the funding situation is getting worse. The budget recently passed by the House actually cuts funding for veterans’ health care by $6 billion below current services over the next five years.

Our veterans deserve better. I am co-sponsoring the Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act to ensure that VA hospitals have the resources they need to serve veterans. Currently, veterans’ health care has to compete for funding with other budget priorities, but this bill would make the health care funding mandatory, adjust it for inflation and base it on the number of veterans enrolled in the system.

Currently, more than 8,000 Tennesseans are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. As we call on our young men and women once again to stand on the front line of freedom, this nation needs to show them that we are honoring the promises made to generations of soldiers, sailors and airmen.

Freedoms we all enjoy as citizens of the United States are the result of tremendous sacrifice from those who serve in the nation’s armed forces. That’s why it is so important we honor the commitments made to those who protect us and our liberties.