DEARBORN, MICH. – U.S. Representative John D. Dingell (D-MI15) honored Michigan veterans and paid tribute to military heroes who served and protected America at events on Thursday and Friday in Michigan.
“Michigan’s veterans have bravely heeded the call of duty for decades, from the first and second World Wars, Korea, and Vietnam to Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Thank you for your courage, your character, and the enduring power of your example. You are patriots, one and all. Every American owes you a debt of gratitude that words cannot repay. I also want to thank our veterans’ families, friends, and caregivers. Your strength, encouragement, and support do not go unnoticed. We celebrate you today, and we appreciate you every day.”
Congressman Dingell has long supported robust funding for the VA to ensure that health facilities can be maintained and our veterans can access the adequate health coverage they deserve. He joined with his colleagues to enact the new Post-9/11 GI Bill. Since 1944, veterans have benefited from the right to educational assistance programs. Through the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Congress has ensured that future generations of veterans, who have served at least two years on active duty since 9/11, will receive expanded educational benefits equal to tuition, room and board, and a $1,000 monthly stipend for textbooks at their state’s most expensive public institution for four years.
Dingell also dropped by the Avalon homeless shelter this morning in Ann Arbor to call for more action to adequately provide for the increase in veterans returning home and acknowledged that, “Clearly, the same, old system is not providing the support our troops need. I ask you to join me today as I call for a renewed engagement of our nation’s most sacred promise: we will fight for our returning vets just as they fought to defend our freedoms overseas.” He expressed his concern at the October report showing that over 850,000 veterans were unemployed, as well as the high prevalence of homelessness among our returning troops. The VA estimates there were over 100,000 homeless vets in 2009.
Dingell supports President Obama announcement of a series of executive actions that will have a real impact on veterans once they return home, including the new Veterans Gold Card, which entitles veterans to an array of new services such as six months of personalized career assessment and counseling services at one of 3,000 career centers nationwide. This card will help serve more than 200,000 veterans immediately as they transition back to civilian life in the U.S. He is a cosponsor of the American Jobs Act, which includes two new tax credits for veterans. The Returning Heroes Tax Credit would provide firms which hire a veteran with a tax credit of $5,600 per veteran, and the Wounded Warriors Tax Credit offers firms that hire veterans with service-connected disabilities with a $9,600 credit. These important new initiatives will help care for our returning troops to find new career paths after leaving the military while creating jobs at the same time.
The Congressman closed his speeches saying: “As America is wrapping up one war and continuing to fight another, we are reminded of the hardships and heroism that forge the soul of a veteran. During the Second World War, the legendary correspondent Ernie Pyle chronicled the story of the average American soldier, and he wrote, ‘In the end, they are the ones that wars can’t be won without.’ Thank you all for your service to our nation.”
Congressman Dingell himself served in the United States Army during World War II, and attended college with the help of the original GI Bill. He made appearances at a Veterans Day Tribute in Detroit and a Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Ypsilanti on Thursday, and is making a Veterans Day Ceremony Ann Arbor and the DTW Freedom Center Lounge Dedication in Romulus today.
###
