Vets for Cornyn
Senator Cornyn’s new web ad featuring combat veteran Scott O’Grady and other veterans commending Senator Cornyn’s record.
It is often said that Texas defends America, a testament to our state’s leading role in defense preparedness and national security. Texas also is home to more than 1.5 million veterans of U.S. military service, and they have a strong advocate in Senator John Cornyn. The son of a career Air Force officer, Senator Cornyn is profoundly aware of the contributions made by those who have served our country and defended our freedoms. Their service often came with risk, and personal sacrifice. As Senator Cornyn says, “No veteran should ever be forgotten.”
In his first Senate term, Senator Cornyn has been active in reforming and modernizing delivery of veteran benefits, particularly health care. Provisions in his legislation improving family housing and burn victim benefits, the Veterans’ Housing Benefits Enhancement Act, became law this year. He has also been a leader in improving mental health benefits for Iraq-Afghanistan veterans. Senator Cornyn has voted for every clean veterans bill, and federal veterans expenditures increased by more than 60 percent during his tenure.
In 2008, when a bill updating the Montgomery G.I. Bill education benefits threatened to adversely affect the strength of our military, Senator Cornyn fought to improve it. The bill was later amended in the House to include transferability of some education benefits to family members, a provision that Senator Cornyn and Defense Department officials said would strengthen vital retention in our all-volunteer armed forces. Senator Cornyn has also taken a leading role in preserving and enhancing Texas veterans facilities, and he authored key legislation seeking improved health care access for veterans in the underserved Rio Grande Valley region.
Examples of Senator Cornyn’s strong record supporting veterans and military:
- Supported every clean Veterans Appropriations Bill, which led to a greater than 60 percent increase in veterans health care funding and more than 60 percent in additional overall VA funding.
- Pushed for bipartisan legislation passed this year to expand G.I. Bill education benefits and allow their transferability to family members, strengthening military retention.
- Played a key role in ensuring the future of Texas military facilities during the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process, working with the Texas congressional delegation to maintain and strengthen most Texas installations.
- Led the fight to protect the right to vote for U.S. military personnel serving overseas. He has worked on several solutions, including legislative and administrative, to improve the process of delivering military absentee ballots and ensure every vote counts. His MVP Act to safeguard the voting rights of overseas troops unanimously passed the Senate in October.
- Worked to ensure that U.S. troops have the resources and political support to win the war against terrorism.
- Passed legislation expanding housing and medical benefits for Texas veterans and wounded warriors.
- Supported legislation to expand our military, reducing the burden on Texas troops and their families.
- Backed legislation to improve the quality of life of military personnel and veterans, including increasing pay and benefits.
- Consistently promoted legislation providing intelligence professionals and law enforcement the tools to track foreign terrorists.
- Enacted legislation expediting citizenship for immigrants who serve in our military.
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