"Russ Feingold is one of the best friends veterans have ever had. He's not only voted right, but he's also taken a leadership role on health care for vets and in trying to make sure they get all the services they're entitled to." - Marv Freedman, longtime veterans' activist
HONORING THEIR SERVICE
"Plain and simple, I believe that
we are indebted to our nation's veterans for the tremendous
sacrifices they made in times of need. That debt must be paid
in full through a strong commitment of ensuring adequate funding
for veterans' health, education, and job-training programs.
As I have traveled around Wisconsin and met with veterans,
they have told me that they are frustrated with the amount
of time it takes for the Veterans Benefits Administration
to process their claims. In some instances, veterans have
had to wait well over a year for their claims. Telling the
men and women who served our country in the armed forces that
they just have to wait is wrong, unacceptable and can be fixed.
It's time that we do right by our veterans
and honor the commitment that we made to our men and women
when they signed up for duty. The freedom and prosperity of
America in the 21st century is a result of their bravery and
sacrifice."
ACHIEVEMENTS
Recognition from Veterans' and Military Groups: Senator Feingold is proud to have the endorsement of the Veterans of Foreign Wars-PAC as a result of his commitment to Wisconsin’s veteran community. Russ is also a proud recipient of the 2004 National Guard Association of the United States Charles Dick Medal of Merit Award for his distinguished work in support of the National Guard. Senator Feingold has received several additional awards for his work on veterans' issues, including Legislator of the Year from the Wisconsin State Council of Vietnam Veterans of America in 1997, Government Affairs Special Recognition Award from Vietnam Veterans of America in 1998, and the Coin for Excellence from the Adjutant General of the Wisconsin National Guard in 2000.
Ensuring Access to Quality Health Care:
-Senator Feingold has consistently fought for increased Department of Veterans Affairs health care funding since he came to the Senate in 1993.
-In March 2004, Senator Feingold cosponsored an amendment to the Senate version of the fiscal year 2005 budget resolution that would have provided $2.7 billion in additional funding for veterans' health care to the federal budget. The amendment was supported by such veterans groups as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and AMVETS. This additional funding would have ensured that new fees and copayments for veterans proposed by the Bush Administration would be unnecessary and that all veterans who wish to use the VA health care system were able to do so.
-Senator Feingold also supports the construction of additional VA community-based outpatient clinics (CBOCs) throughout Wisconsin. More facilities in more parts of the state help shorten long travel times and ease the time that many veterans spend waiting for treatment. Senator Feingold led the fight for a new CBOC in the Green Bay area, and is actively pushing the VA to construct a new CBOC in the Sawyer County area. In April 2004, when the VA announced it would explore the possibility of contracting out the services at the Superior veterans clinic, Senator Feingold led a bipartisan coalition of Members of Congress from Wisconsin and Minnesota in urging the VA not to pursue this proposal. In May 2004, the VA announced that it would not contract out the work at the Superior clinic.
-Feingold led the effort with other members of the Wisconsin congressional delegation to ensure that the VA would not consider partially closing, merging, or selling the VA hospital in Madison.
Delivering Veterans the Benefits They Earned:
-In July 2002, the Department of Veterans Affairs ordered its regional health care directors to "ensure that no marketing activities to enroll new veterans [in VA health care programs] occur within [their] networks." In response to the VA's announcement, Senator Feingold introduced S. 1151, the Veterans Outreach Protection Act. This bill would rescind the VA order and prohibit the VA from using federal funds to enforce such a policy. A modified version of Senator Feingold's bill became law as a part of the fiscal year 2004 Omnibus Appropriations Bill.
-Senator Feingold believes that we also must strengthen the VA outreach program. In response to his interactions with the Wisconsin veterans community, he introduced S. 1199, the Veterans Outreach Improvement Act, which was inspired by the overwhelming response to the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs' "I Owe You" program. This bill would ensure that the VA is making every effort to inform veterans and their families about the benefits for which they may be eligible.
-Senator Feingold strongly believes that we must fully address the outdated system known as concurrent receipt which unfairly reduces the military retirement pay of certain disabled veterans. In May 2003, Senator Feingold cosponsored an amendment to the fiscal year 2004 budget resolution that increased the budget by $12.7 billion over 10 years in order to allow military retirees with certain service-connected disabilities to receive both the retirement pay and the disability benefits they earned. In addition, Senator Feingold voted in favor of the fiscal year 2004 Department of Defense authorization bill, which created a partial concurrent receipt benefit for certain veterans. While this is a step in the right direction, Senator Feingold believes there is much more work to be done.
-In response to the problems that many veterans have in receiving timely processing of their VA claims, Senator Feingold introduced S. 1656, the Veterans Benefits Administration Improvement Act of 2001. The VBA Improvement Act would have required the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to submit a comprehensive plan to Congress for improving claims processing, and require the Secretary to make reports about the status of the program every sixth months.
Supporting Our Troops Now and When They Return Home:
-In May 2004 Senator Feingold introduced S. 2427, the Veterans Enhanced Services Transition (VETS) Act, which would strengthen and improve transition services for military personnel who are returning to civilian life. This legislation is supported by numerous Wisconsin and national veterans and military organizations, including the Wisconsin and national VFW, the Wisconsin and national American Legion, the Wisconsin and national Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Wisconsin DAV, the Wisconsin State Council, Vietnam Veterans of America, the Wisconsin National Guard, the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, the Enlisted Association of the National Guard, and the Reserve Officers Association.
-Senator Feingold has also introduced S. 683, the Military Family Leave Act. This bill would allow spouses, parents, sons and daughters of military personnel who receive Family and Medical Leave Act benefits through their employers to use those benefits for issues directly relating to our resulting from their family member's deployment.
-He also led the effort with other members of the Wisconsin congressional delegation to ensure that the VA would not consider partially closing, merging, or selling the VA hospital in Madison.
-Senator Feingold in March 2004 supported an amendment to extend TRICARE health benefits to members of the National Guard and Reserve and their families, part of his long record of commitment to this goal.
Preserving
VA Services: Senator Feingold led the fight to preserve
medical services at the Middleton, WI Veterans Memorial Hospital,
which currently serves about 18,000 Wisconsin veterans. Senator
Feingold will continue to fight for Wisconsin veterans' fair
share of benefits-although Wisconsin ranks 19th in veteran
population in the United States, it receives only 75 cents
for every $1 of federal benefits paid out to veterans nationally.
Supporting
the Search for our MIA/POWs: Senator Feingold has been a strong supporter of aggressive efforts to track down our veterans who are still classified as POW/MIAs. During the 107th Congress Senator Feingold cosponsored S. 1339, the Persian Gulf POW/MIA Bring Them Home Alive Act, which became law in October of 2002. In addition Senator Feingold supported normalizing relations with Vietnam, in part to generate greater cooperation on efforts to obtain information about the fate of Americans listed as POW/MIA. He also supported legislation that requires the POW/MIA flag to be flown at the World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War memorials in Washington, D.C.
Increasing Access to Counseling
Services: Senator Feingold was a strong supporter of
legislation enacted in the 104th Congress to allow World War
II and Korean War veterans access to mental health counseling
services for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, to which only
Vietnam War and post-Vietnam era veterans were entitled.
Providing
Health Care to Victims of Spina Bifida: Senator Feingold
was an original co-sponsor of legislation enacted in 1996
to provide free health care and other monetary benefits to
children suffering from spina bifida as a result of their
parents' exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.
Fighting
for Gulf War Veterans: Senator Feingold fought for
legislation to ensure that Gulf War veterans suffering from
the mysterious Persian Gulf Illnesses would receive priority
medical care from the Veterans Administration. The VA would
have been required to establish a comprehensive outreach program
to inform Gulf War veterans and their families about the various
services and benefits available to them.
Supporting
Americans with Disabilities: Senator Feingold is a
strong supporter of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),
which has allowed thousands of disabled veterans to work and
fully participate in society. Senator Feingold has supported
legislative measures to build on the spirit of the ADA by
providing open access and equal rights for people with disabilities.
Honoring
U.S. Veterans and Reservists: Senator Feingold has
cosponsored two bills to honor U.S. veterans and reservists.
The Veterans Burial Rights Act of 1998 directs the Secretaries
of the Navy, Army, and Air Force to provide honor guard details
at veterans' funerals upon request and establishes the minimum
size of such details. The second veterans bill, S 1406, would
allow Selected Reserve Members, including National Guard members,
to be eligible for the age-old honor of burial flags.