We owe a huge debt of gratitude to our men and women in uniform. Unfortunately their service often leads to injury and pain, both physical and emotional. When that happens we cannot deny them the help they need.
Too many veterans are unemployed. We need to help them find jobs.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is real and needs to be addressed and treated.
Nearly 2,300 veterans died in 2008 for lack of health insurance. No Pennsylvania veteran should be denied healthcare.
We need to re-open the five Governor's Veterans Outreach Centers Pennsylvania closed earlier this year.. These state-funded centers had been serving veterans for nearly 29 years before falling under the axe of budget cuts. The offices served nearly 11,000 people between 2006 and 2009 at a cost of only $2.2 million - one-fifth of what we spent to fund an Arlen Specter Library and 3% of what was allocated toward WAMs.
Another victim of the budget axe was the Scotland School for Veterans' Children, which for 114 years, offered scholarships to the children of veterans. When its $10 million state funding was eliminated last year it was forced to close its doors. We should re-open them.
Tabor Community Services in Lancaster set up "Veterans Victory House" in 2007 to house homeless veterans whom it says represent 25% of the homeless population. I commend Tabor and any other private institution doing similar good work, but Pennsylvania should work to guarantee that no veteran is denied a roof over their heads. When elected I will support legislation to house and feed homeless veterans.