Congresswoman Matsui Votes for Timely Funding for Our Nations Veterans
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, October 8, 2009
CONTACT: Mara Lee
(202) 225-7163
Congresswoman Matsui Votes for Timely Funding for Our Nation's Veterans
Legislation Will Ensure Veterans Get the Funding They Need - When They Need It
Today, Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (CA-05) voted to approve the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, H.R. 1016. Endorsed by many veterans' organizationsandmdash;such as the American Legion, AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, and Veterans of Foreign Warsandmdash;the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act moves to authorize Congress to approve Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care investments and requires the President to request those funds one year in advance.
"Veterans have endured grave risk with unfaltering bravery to protect our way of life, and so it is necessary that we show gratitude with unfaltering support of their well being," said Representative Matsui. "H.R. 1016 will make certain that our men and women of uniform, exemplifying that which makes our nation great, are receiving the high quality care they deserve. By approving this legislation we provide timely funding to the Department of Veterans Affairs, enabling them to better plan for the growing number of veterans and complex medical conditions."
Last year, the veterans' appropriations bill was enacted on time, the first time in 12 years that Congress was able to promptly deliver veterans medical care funding. Many VA hospital directors struggled during those previous years, as equipment purchase delays, maintenance cuts, and growing wait times placed hardship on the veterans' facilities. The legislated passed by the U.S. House of Representatives today will make certain that delays in Congress never again get in the way of delivering veterans the medical care they need.
Additionally, Congresswoman Matsui supported the Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act, H.R. 3590, on the House floor today, which will make changes to several Recovery Act provisions in how they apply to service members. The legislation will ensure that certain payments under the Defense Housing Assistance Program to assist military personnel selling a home that has declined in value are exempt from tax. It will also ensure service members will not have to repay the first-time home buyer credit if they are deployed to a different location and, as a result, forced to sell their home within three years of buying it.
Finally, H.R. 5590 extends the deadline for taking advantage the first-time homebuyer credit for qualifying service members for one year, to December 1, 2010, so that certain service members stationed overseas can take advantage of the credit when they return.
"Our veterans have committed themselves to andlsquo;leave no solder behind,' to be andlsquo;always faithful,' and to be andlsquo;a force for good," Matsui continued. "As a nation, we must continue to come together to leave no veteran behind, remain always faithful to our men and women in uniform, and to be a force for good."
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