COLEMAN FOR SENATE ANNOUNCES “VETERANS FOR COLEMAN” COALITION LEADERSHIP

Will Discuss Norm Coleman’s Many Accomplishments On Behalf Of Minnesota’s Veterans

ST. PAUL – Highlighting Norm Coleman’s proven record of fighting for Minnesota, Veterans for Coleman held a press conference today to thank Senator Coleman for his efforts to improve the lives of veterans everywhere. Senator Coleman’s most notable veterans’ related accomplishments include his very first bill to be signed into law, which required the Pentagon to pay our troops' travel expenses when they head home from abroad for rest and relaxation, personally contacting the Secretary of Defense to see that Minnesota troops in the 1/34th Brigade Combat Team got the education benefits they earned while in Iraq and fighting to provide a national reintegration program for returning troops based on Minnesota's highly-successful Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program.

“As the son of a World War II veteran who fought on the beaches of Normandy to the Battle of the Bulge, I am fully committed to honoring the service and sacrifices of our veterans by voting to increase funding and provide better service for veterans programs,” said Senator Norm Coleman. “I’m honored to count both Pete and Tom among some of my most ardent supporters and look forward to working with them on veterans issues not only the rest of the campaign, but for the next six years as well.”

“When America’s veterans look for a friend and ally in the United States Senate, they need look no further than Senator Norm Coleman,” said Pete Panos, Co-Chair for Veterans for Coleman. “When veterans are in trouble, Norm’s there. When they have a problem, Norm’s there. When the families of our nation’s fighting men and women need a friend, Norm’s there. Norm’s been there, and with the support of all of us here, and veterans across the state, he’s going to be there for another six years fighting for us and getting things done.”

“Al Franken says he gets outraged – he says sometimes he goes too far. Well, I’m one veteran – who I think would be joined by many, many others – who thinks Al Franken’s gone too far when he attacks Norm Coleman’s record on veterans,” said veteran Tom Schilling. “Minnesota veterans are tough – and we’ve all been through tough times – in the battlefield as well as off the battlefield. But, we know the difference between talking tough and doing nothing – and being tough and getting things done.”

Veterans for Coleman will actively reach out to other Minnesota veterans to share with them Senator Coleman’s veterans related accomplishments as well as counteract the Franken campaign’s smear about Senator Coleman’s record.

Norm Coleman: Fighting For Minnesota Veterans

• Norm Coleman has a long record of strongly supporting federal funding for veterans benefit programs at the highest level possible, voting over 30 times to increase veterans funding during his time office, which has resulted in a 67% increase in funding for veterans' programs since he took office in 2003.

• In 2006, the Senate passed into law the Veterans Benefits Outreach Act, a bill authored by Sen. Coleman that establishes the first-ever action plan requiring the VA to reach out to all veterans to ensure they are aware of the benefits for which they are eligible and receive them efficiently and fairly.

• Norm has worked on legislation to eliminate the Survivor Benefit Offset to help military spouses and, after a century of injustice, has been helping to end the penalties that prevented disabled veterans from collecting both disability and retirement benefits.

• Norm joined Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) in introducing the Total Force GI Bill to improve the quality of education benefits for National Guard and Reserve troops.

• Norm is working to secure funds to create a college reenrollment program for returning Minnesota troops.

• Norm authored a provision in the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Authorization bill to increase mental health care providers who accept military health insurance.

• Norm secured federal funds to fully fund Minnesota's reintegration program for Minnesota's National Guard First Brigade Combat Team.

• Norm has supported a new GI bill that would expand education benefits for service members, veterans and their families.

• Norm supported increasing the drastically outdated mileage reimbursement rate for veterans traveling to VA facilities for medical care and has sought to further increase that rate.

• Recently, Norm Coleman successfully passed an amendment in the Senate to triple the grace period that returning service members have to deal with problems with mortgages they may have faced during their deployment.

• Last year, the Senate passed a Coleman amendment to the 2008 Budget Resolution that would extend a provision giving veterans access to mortgages at lower interest rates, similar to those offered to first-time homeowners.
 

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