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Questioning VA's Undersecretary for Benefits, Daniel Cooper |
"We have a lot of veterans who are coming home from serving us overseas and when they do they find themselves fighting their own government. To me that's just wrong," Murray said at a hearing of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee.
"For me, it's about keeping the promise to those who have served us. When I talk to my veterans at home today, they often tell me that they are forced to wait months or even years to get their claims processed. We're hearing about veterans who are getting different ratings and different benefits across the country and arbitrary limits on too many benefits."
When Murray turned to question the VA's Undersecretary for Benefits, Daniel Cooper, she expressed her concerns about bonuses paid to top VA officials.
"I am hearing from a number of our soldiers who've returned home who can't get their benefits because of a backlog at the VA. They're literally going for months without any income because of that backlog. When they hear about a senior VA official getting a bonus while they can't even get a benefit to keep them in their home or feed their family, it's pretty disturbing," Murray told Undersecretary Cooper.
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Murray and Hastings Work to Name New Wenatchee VA Clinic in Honor of Elwood "Bud" Link
On Wednesday, Senator Murray and U.S. Congressman Doc Hastings (R-WA) introduced legislation to name the soon-to-be-opened VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Wenatchee after Elwood "Bud" Link.
A World War II veteran, Mr. Link had to drive 6 hours roundtrip to receive care through the VA. In 2001 VFW Post 10445 created a healthcare committee, with Bud taking the lead. The committee investigated a variety of ways to improve VA accessibility, and eventually approached Senator Murray and Rep. Hastings with their findings.
The healthcare committee, working with Murray and Hastings, began pushing for a clinic to be located in North Central Washington. Bud was instrumental in keeping the region's veterans motivated, active, and informed about how to successfully make a clinic a reality. Mr. Link championed the clinic until his death in 2003.
Today, Senator Murray said: "Bud Link dedicated his time and energy to helping other veterans, and now that the clinic he fought for is going to open, we have a chance to honor his lifetime of service." "Recognizing Bud Link's longtime commitment to hometown health care for local veterans, it is absolutely fitting to name the clinic in his honor," added Hastings.
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Senator Murray Presses Defense Secretary on Training Iraqi Forces, Political Benchmarks, and Mental Health Care
On Wednesday, Senator Murray questioned Defense Secretary Robert Gates on the training of Iraqi
 Credit: AP Photo/ Susan Walsh |
Political Benchmarks
Murray also asked about the amount of progress the Iraqi government is making on meeting the political benchmarks necessary to achieve a stable democracy.
Murray asked: Have you seen any progress on the political benchmarks that have been set for the Iraqi government -on oil revenue sharing, national reconciliation, new elections...?
Gates: "Clearly it hasn't moved as far and as fast as we would like."
Gates: "We are buying them time for political reconciliation and every day we buy them we buy with American blood"
Audio: Secretary Gates' Answer on Meeting Political Benchmarks (1 Min 43 Sec)
Mental Health Care
Senator Murray, who has been a national leader on caring for service members with PTSD, asked Secretary Gates about how the Department of Defense is working to ensure that troops are getting the mental health care they deserve.
"I've been very concerned because I have been hearing directly from soldiers that they feel that the effects of PTSD are being dismissed by military care providers as being 'all in their head' " Murray said. "I want your assurance today that you will make sure that is not the case?"
Audio: Secretary Gates' Answer on PTSD (2 Min 46 Sec)
Training of Iraqi Forces
Senator Murray began her questioning by asking for answers on the painfully slow pace of training and equipping forces in Iraq.
"Our troops have been training forces now for more than four years in Iraq," Murray said "In your opinion where are we in having an Iraqi security force that is able to stand up on its own?"
Pace: "the current proposed size of the Iraqi army will be met by the end of this year."
Audio: Secretary Gates and General Pace's Answers on Training Iraqi Forces (1 Min 47 Sec)
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Recent Updates:
http://murray.senate.gov/vetupdates/update21.html
http://murray.senate.gov/vetupdates/update19.html
http://murray.senate.gov/vetupdates/update18.html