Military

Using funding for current military combat operations as a political tool is reprehensible. Congress should either withhold funding outright, or approve funding outright. Linking combat budgets to make political statements betrays the trust of our fellow citizens in uniform.

While we fight, we fight to win. When we stop fighting, we stop. To do otherwise is to ignore the lessons of Korea and Viet Nam. Combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq must be fully funded, without political strings.

Our military members also deserve to know their families will be cared for while they are away. Family support and services should expand as needed to suit the needs of the modern American military family; this should be something continually monitored by service secretaries and chiefs and funded by Congress.

Veterans

Immediate Support

I understand and respect the tradition of the citizen-soldier . As a citizen I expect my government to provide everything necessary to support service members returning from war zones. As a veteran I recognize the increased stress on the warfighter due to our use of force multiplying technologies; we have gone from a manpower heavy force, to a lean force where one person can do what two or three have traditionally done. This gives us great operational effectiveness in combat and significantly more stress on each individual.

Mental health screening and counseling in addition to the traditional transition support must be provided to every returning member from the active, reserve and National Guard components. Returning reservists and guard members deserve direct support in ensuring they return to the civilian work force as required by law. Additionally, combat veterans should be given opportunities to continue public service in civil law enforcement and emergency response agencies through special academies and training programs.

Injured veterans and those traditionally known as disabled veterans need to be made as whole as possible and if discharged from the service be productive members of society.

All veterans deserve education and training support. These people have come of age and experienced life-changing challenges in service to our nation, they deserve help in pursuing educational opportunities.

Continuing Support

Historically, the veteran has had to prove health problems later in life are service-related. This has placed undo burden on the veteran. The Veterans Administration should lead long term studies of veterans to monitor the entire population for subsequent problems. The VA must be proactive, not reactive. Wounded veterans deserve life time support with medical treatment, artificial limbs, and mental health support

My Promise to Veterans
I will not desert our veterans. As a representative of my district, I will work to help all veterans in need. Most representatives only work to help people from their districts, but I see helping all veterans as a service to my district and on behalf of my constituents. I will seek out other like minded federal and state officials to actively meet the needs of veterans.

Paid for by Paul Spause for Congress, Michelle Bennett, Treasurer.