Senator Coleman is working hard and getting things done for our veterans and military personnel

Al Franken Claims….
“We sent our men and women over there and when they come back they’re going to pay for it for the rest of our lives. And that when they come back, the ones that have been wounded or the ones that come back with post traumatic stress disorder aren’t taken care of properly. Norm Coleman voted time and time again to cut veterans’ health. That’s just a disgrace.”  – Al Franken, Chisago County DFL BBQ, August 11, 2007
 
Al Franken needs to get his facts straight…. 
Senator Coleman continues to be a strong voice advocating for veterans and the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces every day that he has been in the U.S. Senate.
THE FACTS: Norm Coleman has strongly supported increased funding and benefits for veterans
Increasing Funding for Veterans
Since he took office in 2003, federal funding for veterans programs has increased 67%. During this time period, funding for veterans has increased 67% from $52.38 billion in Fiscal Year 2002 to $87.5 billion in Fiscal Year 2008.
Senator Coleman has voted 29 times to increase funding for veterans programs, and has rejected false funding promises that only served to increase the burden on taxpayers, including our veterans, and to raise the federal debt on the shoulders of our honored veterans.[1]
Supporting Legislation to Increase and Improve Benefits for Veterans

TRAVEL EXPENSES FOR TROOPS TO COME HOME FOR R & R: The first piece of legislation authored by Senator Coleman in the Senate and signed into law 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.
 
VETERANS BENEFIT OUTREACH ACT: 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.
 
SURVIVOR BENEFIT OFFSET: Senator Coleman has worked on legislation to eliminate the Survivor Benefit Offset to help military spouses.
 
DISABLED VETERANS BENEFITS: After a century of injustice, Senator Coleman has been helping to end the penalties that prevented disabled veterans from collecting both disability and retirement benefits.
 
TROOP REINTEGRATION ACT: 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 spending measure approved by Congress and signed into law by the President.

• Senator Coleman secured significant federal funds to fully fund Minnesota’s reintegration program for Minnesota’s National Guard First Brigade Combat Team.
   
• Senator Coleman successfully pressured the Defense Department to lift the 60-day “hands off” policy for the Minnesota National Guard on a pilot basis, and secured their commitment to study the results of the program for consideration as a model for a national program.

ADDRESSING SOLDIER HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES: Senator Coleman continues to work on legislative initiatives to address health and mental health challenges of soldiers.  The Senate recently passed Senator Coleman’s amendment to the Defense Authorization bill that gives the Secretary of Defense the ability to increase mental health reimbursement rates for TRICARE.
 
EDUCATION BENEFITS: Senator Coleman continues to work to improve the quality of education benefits for National Guard and Reserve troops.

• He has introduced the Total Force GI Bill to improve the quality of education benefits, and this bill was included in the Defense Authorization bill this year.
   
• Senator Coleman is a coauthor of the Veterans Upward Bound Improvement Act to make more members of the National Guard and Reserve eligible for education programs. 

[1] Senate vote 28, January 23, 2003; Senate vote 34, February 13, 2003; Senate vote 108, March 26, 2003; Senate vote 400, October 17, 2003; Senate vote 1, January 20, 2004; Senate vote 2, January 22, 2004; Senate vote 3, January 22, 2004; Senate vote 134, April 11, 2003; Senate vote 58, March 12, 2004; Senate vote 215, November 20, 2004; Senate vote 40, March 10, 2005; Senate vote 55, March 16, 2005; Senate vote 81, March 17, 2005; Senate vote 114, April 28, 2005; Senate vote 165, June 29, 2005; Senate vote 166, June 29, 2005; Senate vote 168, June 29, 2005; Senate vote 174, July 12, 2005; Senate vote 210, July 29, 2005; Senate vote 243, September 22,2005; Senate vote 359, October 19, 2005; Senate vote 364, December 21, 2005; Senate vote 366, December 21, 2005; Senate vote 14, February 13, 2006; Senate vote 40, March 14, 2006; Senate vote 98, April 26, 2006; Senate vote 48, February 14, 2007; Senate vote 246, July 12, 2007; Senate vote 316, September 6, 2007