Political Quotes

“The NDAA is one of the most important bills Congress passes annually. In fact, the past decade, the NDAA has been enacted every year. As such, the NDAA often becomes a grab bag for a variety of priorities. To protect the integrity of this process, I believe the NDAA should focus on strengthening the Department of Defense--its systems, its programs, and its personnel. This amendment would provide an unprecedented $25,000 one-time payment from the VA to World War II merchant marines. Therefore, we should not be discussing this proposal as part of the NDAA. I thank Representative Green for his advocacy on behalf of the merchant marines, and I support the merchant marines. I am also grateful for the bravery of these men who served during World War II. They faced danger, and some made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. That said, their service has been recognized. The GI Bill Improvement Act of 1977 provided a pathway to VA care benefits for civilian groups, known as active duty designees, who supported the Armed Forces in World War II. The merchant marines are considered active duty designees and, as such, received veteran status and eligibility for VA benefits decades ago. However, this amendment carves out a new benefit for merchant marines unlike anything Congress has authorized in the past, not even for our most highly decorated veterans.…”