Columns
August Column
Aug 15 2007
As you know August in Kansas is synonymous with hot. We all seek relief in swimming pools and air conditioning. Everyday when the mercury rises, I think of our men and women in uniform serving in Iraq and Afghanistan where it is really hot, with temperatures reaching 110 or more on a daily basis with little relief available. As a former Marine, I can tell you, with a full pack, gear and armor, our brave servicemembers are working in intense conditions. I hope and pray these men and women return to their families safely and despite the challenges, are able to fulfill their missions.
In the Congress, I have long said our first priority is national security and that we need to take the steps necessary to support our troops. This year we have passed a pay raise for our men and women in uniform and other critical bills to improve the quality of life for our military and their families.
The pay raise was a 3.5 percent across-the-board increase for uniformed military personnel in the Senate version of the Wounded Warrior Act. The legislation now goes to a conference committee to resolve differences with the House passed version of the bill. It is my hope that this long overdue raise will have final approval in the Congress by the end of the year.
Passage of the Wounded Warrior Act itself was an accomplishment. The Act tackles the care for those injured on the battlefield. It addresses many of the problems uncovered at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and seeks to improve the quality of healthcare our men and women in uniform receive from both the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
I am also pleased that legislation I authored to create a scholarship program for the families of service members was attached to the Senate’s version of the Higher Education Act reauthorization. We are set to debate and vote on this bill following the August recess.
The Military Family Members Scholarship amendment establishes need-based scholarships for spouses and children with the maximum award for each academic year being $5,000. The scholarship was the brainchild of ThanksUSA, a non-partisan, charitable effort to mobilize Americans of all ages to "thank" the men and women of the United States armed forces by providing college, technical and vocational school scholarships for their children and spouses.
Also, legislation I sponsored passed the Senate to expand family and medical leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks over a 12 month period for our veterans injured in combat and their families. The leave is expanded to include not only injured veterans and their spouse, child, or parent, but also their next of kin. For those that have already sacrificed so much for our country, it is only right to protect their jobs while they provide care or heal from wounds sustained in the defense of freedom. The amendment passed the Senate as part of the State Child Health Insurance Plan reauthorization bill. The bill now goes to a conference committee to resolve differences with the House passed version of the bill.
These are just a few of our efforts this year that will really make a difference to those who wear the uniform and their families. Semper Fi.
If you would like to know more about issues before the Senate, please visit my Web site at https://www.roberts.senate.gov . For regular updates, be sure to sign up on my home page for a monthly e-newsletter, The Roberts Report.
###
In the Congress, I have long said our first priority is national security and that we need to take the steps necessary to support our troops. This year we have passed a pay raise for our men and women in uniform and other critical bills to improve the quality of life for our military and their families.
The pay raise was a 3.5 percent across-the-board increase for uniformed military personnel in the Senate version of the Wounded Warrior Act. The legislation now goes to a conference committee to resolve differences with the House passed version of the bill. It is my hope that this long overdue raise will have final approval in the Congress by the end of the year.
Passage of the Wounded Warrior Act itself was an accomplishment. The Act tackles the care for those injured on the battlefield. It addresses many of the problems uncovered at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and seeks to improve the quality of healthcare our men and women in uniform receive from both the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
I am also pleased that legislation I authored to create a scholarship program for the families of service members was attached to the Senate’s version of the Higher Education Act reauthorization. We are set to debate and vote on this bill following the August recess.
The Military Family Members Scholarship amendment establishes need-based scholarships for spouses and children with the maximum award for each academic year being $5,000. The scholarship was the brainchild of ThanksUSA, a non-partisan, charitable effort to mobilize Americans of all ages to "thank" the men and women of the United States armed forces by providing college, technical and vocational school scholarships for their children and spouses.
Also, legislation I sponsored passed the Senate to expand family and medical leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks over a 12 month period for our veterans injured in combat and their families. The leave is expanded to include not only injured veterans and their spouse, child, or parent, but also their next of kin. For those that have already sacrificed so much for our country, it is only right to protect their jobs while they provide care or heal from wounds sustained in the defense of freedom. The amendment passed the Senate as part of the State Child Health Insurance Plan reauthorization bill. The bill now goes to a conference committee to resolve differences with the House passed version of the bill.
These are just a few of our efforts this year that will really make a difference to those who wear the uniform and their families. Semper Fi.
If you would like to know more about issues before the Senate, please visit my Web site at https://www.roberts.senate.gov . For regular updates, be sure to sign up on my home page for a monthly e-newsletter, The Roberts Report.
###
