Miller announced today.

Miller also said that Congress is making important headway in improving health care and other benefits for veterans that are sorely needed.

“Whatever one’s view of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is no question that they are putting an intense strain on our military personnel and veterans and it is our responsibility to do everything we can to provide them with the support and health care they need,” said Miller. “It is unthinkable that in the same year as the problems with Walter Reed Hospital came to light and the challenges to veterans care became public, President Bush is opposing additional funding to care for them.”

Miller noted that the new Congress, under Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has approved the largest funding increase for the VA in the VA’s 77-year history and is working now to make further increases for next year. The new Congress has also just approved a 3.5 percent pay increase for active duty military, half a percent higher than what President Bush had requested, as part of the Defense appropriations bill.

“With our troops and their families strained after multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, the new Congress is working to make sure that our soldiers get a pay raise and that our veterans get increased access to health care and other benefits,” said Miller. “Our bill will not only provide the military personnel with the services they need but will also aid their families – making it easier for their spouses and children to deal with the real consequences of war.”

The Military Construction Appropriations Bill approved by the House will provide $129 million to construct 16 new child care centers at military installations along with an unprecedented $21.5 billion for military construction, family housing, and base realignment and closing process, known as BRAC. The total for military construction is an increase of $306 million over the President’s request, which would yield better barracks, housing and training facilities when troops return from combat.

President Bush has threatened to veto the pending Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill and has demanded $4 billion in harmful cuts to other programs -- such as homeland security, health care, and education -- unless Congress cuts the Veterans Affairs increases for 2008 that he has repeatedly called “excessive.”

“By refusing to negotiate with the Congress, the President is obstructing and delaying all appropriations measures, including needed funding for veterans and their families,” said Miller.

While Congressional Democrats try to work with the President, a stopgap continuing resolution will keep the federal government operating and allow the VA to spend at a rate of almost $3 billion above last year.

“The new Congress is honoring our troops, military families and veterans with quality health care and fair pay and strengthening our military readiness,” said Miller. “Democrats will continue to fight for our veterans to ensure that they have access to health care and services that they deserve. I hope the President reconsiders his decision and signs our bills into law.”

This weekend, Miller will be honoring brave American soldiers and celebrating Veterans Day by sitting down with 6 veterans from WWII, The Korean War, The Vietnam War, the Gulf War, Afghanistan and the war in Iraq to listen to their stories about serving our country. Miller will record the interviews and submit them to the Library of Congress’s Veterans History Project, which will preserve the rich history for generations to come.

Video from the interviews will also be posted on Miller’s website. www.house.gov/georgemiller/vethistory