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Serving Those Who Serve Us

August 4. 2010

Dear Friends,

Mississippi is home to more than 210,000 living veterans, men and women who have who have admirably served our country. As a member of Congress, I am committed to protecting our veterans’ interests on a daily basis.

I am so proud to represent the First Congressional District of Mississippi, our veterans and their families who call North Mississippi home, and the many men and women from the district who are currently fighting for our country both at home and abroad.

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Military Construction and

Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act. This legislation will provide critical funding for veterans health services and the construction of key facilities for our military, including Columbus Air Force Base. As our troops return home from Iraq, this bill will provide resources to ensure that veterans have access to healthcare and benefits, including more than 4,000 additional permanent claims processors.

This legislation will strengthen the VA workforce to tackle claims backlogs and to process new educational benefits provided by the new GI Bill enacted in the last Congress. It will allow the VA to process newly eligible claims for disabilities of Vietnam veterans and their survivors due to exposure to Agent Orange. The legislation also provides new family caregiver benefits to disabled veterans.

In addition, this bill addresses critical military construction needs to train and house our troops. It accelerates the Army’s program to modernize troop housing for trainees, addresses unfunded construction requirements of our Guard and Reserve and expedites the environmental cleanup on closed military bases.

The honorable men and women who serve to protect our freedoms should have the best care possible, and this legislation will help guarantee that they do. It will provide essential resources for our soldiers both while they serve and after they return home.

I express my deepest gratitude for the great sacrifices our troops make on a daily basis, and I will continue working hard to ensure that they have access to the top-notch facilities they need and the benefits they’ve earned. 

As always, please continue to keep me informed about your opinions and concerns by phone at (202) 225-4306 or by visiting my website at www.childers.house.gov.