Al Weed - A Democrat for Virginia

The American military is one of the greatest machines in the world. Our security relies on its strength, and its strength relies on the dedication of the men and women in uniform. Recruiting, training, and sending our soldiers into battle are solemn responsibilities. Taking care of our veterans when they return is a moral obligation.

You cannot hear a Republican speak about the war in Iraq without saying, support our troops.” Unfortunately, the Republican idea of supporting our troops begins with handing them a weapon and ends with handing them their discharge papers.

Mr. Goode and the Republicans – many of whom are not veterans – will make impressive claims. We here are all veterans, and we have lived the unfortunate truth of their fiction.

They will say that VA appropriations have increased 40% in the last six years. What they won’t say is the number of veterans reliant on VA healthcare has increased 250% during those years.

Mr. Goode will say he is a key proponent of veterans care. What he won’t say is that he voted against 53 million dollars in additional veteran’s healthcare funding, when that bill needed just one more vote to pass.

What he won’t say is that he voted with the Republican majority and against $1.8 billion in VA healthcare funding.

When Specialist Wilson called on his congressman for help, all he got in return was a stack of letters. These letters are what Mr. Goode calls constituent services. The bills that Specialist Wilson is inappropriately receiving are what I call our government’s moral obligation.

Specialist Wilson suffers from Traumatic Brain Injury, the signature wound of this conflict. Earlier this year Mr. Goode signed a letter by Dr. George Zitnay calling for TBI funding to be increased to 19 million dollars. When the Republicans ignored the request and cut the funding in half – to only 7 million dollars – he dutifully kept his mouth shut. All he can do for Specialist Wilson is sign a letter. As a majority member of the Appropriations Committee and member of the United States Congress he is called to be a leader.

I have led troops in combat, and I will be a leader for our veterans in Congress. Specialist Wilson served boldly, and there are thousands of others like him. It is our duty to support them.

With federal support, the New College Institute in Martinsville can be built from the ground up to accommodate the handicapped and disabled veterans returning from Iraq. We can create an institution that will serve our veterans and the community at large.

The Republicans like using the term “cut and run”. For too many Veterans that is exactly what their government is doing to them. The Republican controlled Congress continues to pour money into the Iraq war but will not meet its moral obligation to this generation of veterans.