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The Good Fight: Chris’ Pledge to Honor and Protect our Veterans

As a thank you for their brave service to our country, it is our obligation as Americans to ensure that veterans have the medical care, job, and educational opportunities that they deserve. As the veteran population in Connecticut and around the country grows larger and older, it is nothing short of a moral imperative that we look critically at our system and take real steps to improve it – while keeping our commitment to comprehensive and long-lasting services for our troops.

Keeping faith with our veterans by increasing educational opportunities.

During his time in the state legislature, Chris has recognized the educational needs of veterans and taken steps to address it. He led the charge on 2009 legislation offering a tuition waiver for service members attending Connecticut state colleges if expenses exceeded those allowances offered under the federal G.I. Bill. And, under a bill passed last year, he made sure relevant training, schooling or apprenticeship in the armed services will be recognized and applied toward requirements for state certifications, licenses, or continuing education credits when veterans return home.¹ This will save veterans time and money as they work towards building the skills they need to succeed in the 2011 job market. As your Congressman, Chris will fight to strengthen and expand the critically important Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act, commonly known as “the New G.I. Bill.” Investing in the future of those returning from overseas is good for our economy, good for families, and most importantly, good for our veterans.

A commitment to ensuring veterans’ access to health care.

Protecting our veteran’s physical security is just as important as protecting their financial security. The Veterans’ Administration healthcare system is a constant reminder of the good – and bad – things about government. On one hand, the VA provides much-needed care to more than 200,000 veterans here in Connecticut² – care that they might have not otherwise have had access to, or been able to afford. On the other hand, many veterans have a difficult time navigating the complex and confusing VA bureaucracy, and as a result, are denied the care and benefits to which they are entitled. Chris believes strongly that this status quo is wholly unacceptable – and with this in mind, he helped pass bipartisan legislation last year that made it illegal for nursing homes to prevent patients from accessing prescription drug benefits offered through the VA.³ As your Congressman, Chris would continue to fight for a strong, productive partnership between the VA, state government, and healthcare providers to make sure that each and every veteran receives the care and benefits that they deserve.

¹P.A. 10-105
²http://www.va.gov/vetdata/Veteran_Population.asp
³P.A. 10-39