Montanans are dedicated to serving their country. They have played an important role in making America great, risking their lives to protect the very freedoms that we all enjoy. We can never truly thank our veterans and their families enough for the sacrifices they have made, but we can make sure they receive the care they deserve.
That’s why the first bill I introduced when I was elected to Congress was to increase pay for our troops. And we were successful in securing a pay raise for our troops by passing the Defense Authorization Act in 2001.
I also support legislation that would end deductions of VA survivor benefits from Survivor Benefit Plan annuities. We cannot allow bad government policies to negatively impact the families of the men and women serving our country. If a soldier sacrifices their life defending our freedoms, their families should receive the benefit package we promised them. It’s our responsibility to honor our agreements and I will continue to work on behalf of our veterans and their families.
I’m also a firm believer that the best way to help our troops is to offer them the tools to be successful. I supported legislation that would make it easier for veterans to receive an education through the GI Bill. This legislation allows for veterans who receive a college education online to receive the same quality benefits as those veterans who attend a brick and mortar institution. I have also sought changes to the GI Bill that would allow our veterans to transfer their education benefits to a spouse or child in order to ensure the entire family can receive an education for the veteran’s service. By educating our troops and their families, we can better help them assimilate into a 21st century workforce and succeed.
Ensuring that our veterans receive the best possible health care has always been a top priority of mine. During my time in Congress I petitioned the VA to open new clinics in Montana, making it easier for our vets to receive the healthcare that they deserve. Montana now has three new VA access points in Lewistown, Cut Bank and Havre. I am continually looking for ways to expand veterans rights and medical services, with an emphasis on providing those services to rural Montana.
As your Senator, it will always be a top priority of mine to protect the men and women who serve our country.