Tim Walberg: “I want to thank the chairman for including this amendment en bloc. As our men and women transition out of the Armed…”

“I want to thank the chairman for including this amendment en bloc. As our men and women transition out of the Armed Forces, they are confronted with a number of challenges as they reintegrate into civilian life. My amendment offers a simple change to current DOD policy that I believe will greatly benefit our servicemembers as they return home. Based on bipartisan legislation I have introduced, the Servicemembers Transition Improvement Act, this amendment would require a pilot program at DOD to transmit a comprehensive copy of a servicemember's information to State veterans agencies. Veterans service agencies are a powerful resource, helping veterans through job assistance programs and navigating the benefits they have earned. This legislation will enable veterans service offices to assist separating servicemembers who reside in their communities and confirms that caring for our men and women in uniform does not end when they leave military service. Also, Madam Chairman, I rise today in support of my bipartisan amendment with Mr. Cohen of Tennessee to prohibit new funds for the Afghanistan infrastructure fund and ensure American tax dollars are invested wisely. We have already spent billions of dollars toward rebuilding the infrastructure of Afghanistan, and Congress has appropriated over $1.2 billion alone to the Afghanistan infrastructure fund since it was created in 2011.…”