Supporting Our Veterans

 

SENATOR NORM COLEMAN: GETTING THINGS DONE FOR VETERANS
 

The first piece of legislation authored by Senator Coleman in the Senate was a bill requiring the Pentagon to pay our troops’ travel expenses when they head home from abroad for rest and relaxation. That bill set the stage for a number of future efforts to honor the sacrifices of our soldiers and veterans on the Senate floor. Senator Coleman has a long record of strongly supporting federal funding for veterans benefit programs at the highest level possible, and has supported a 67% increase in veterans funding since he took office in 2003.

  • Last year, the Senate passed into law the Veterans Benefits Outreach Act, 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.
  • Senator Coleman 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.
  • Senator Coleman has cosponsored resolutions commemorating the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and National Veterans Awareness Week.
  • Senator Coleman has introduced the Total Force GI Bill with Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) to improve quality of education benefits for National Guard and Reserve troops.
  • Senator Coleman is working to secure funds to create a college reenrollment program for returning Minnesota troops.
  • Senator Coleman has successfully worked to eliminate a technical glitch that has limited access to education benefits for Minnesota troops in the 1/34th Brigade Combat Team.
  • Senator Coleman authored a provision in the Fiscal Year 2008 Defense Authorization bill to make it easier for mental health providers to accept military health insurance.
  • Senator Coleman joined with colleagues to introduce the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Act, implementing a national strategy for troop reintegration, which was included in the FY08 Defense Authorization bill.
  • Senator Coleman secured significant federal funds to fully fund Minnesota’s reintegration program for Minnesota’s National Guard First Brigade Combat Team.
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