As a 21-year Navy veteran, Congressman Kirk puts his fellow veterans first – improving veterans’ health care, expanding education opportunities, and honoring our disabled veterans. Since Mark Kirk took office in 2001, Congress has doubled its support for veterans’ health.
Ensuring Accessible First-Class Healthcare
When Washington bureaucrats designated the North Chicago VA Medical Center for closure, Mark Kirk intervened. Working with local veterans, Congressman Kirk saved the hospital from closing by establishing a first-of-its-kind Navy/VA partnership. This new, state-of-the-art hospital, named after Illinois resident and Apollo XIII hero- Captain James A. Lovell, will ensure accessible first-class care for more than 100,000 veterans, retirees, sailors and their families, while saving $160 million over its projected 40-year lifespan.
Expanding Opportunities for our Newest Veterans
The opportunity for education is an invaluable benefit that can be transformative in the lives of our returning veterans. To increase these benefits, Congressman Kirk supported the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill, which provides eligible veterans with funding to receive a college education or vocational training at an institution of higher learning of their choice. These benefits cover the cost of tuition, up to the maximum cost of in-state public university undergraduate tuition, plus a stipend for room and board.
Further, Congressman Kirk broke party lines to support the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John D. Fry scholarship, which extends post 9/11 G.I. Bill eligibility to the children of service members killed while serving on active duty after September 10, 2001.
Honoring Our Disabled Veterans
Mark Kirk led the bipartisan effort to help pass the American Veterans Disabled for Life Commemorative Coin Act. The law directs the Secretary of the Treasury to mint and issue $1 silver coins for the purpose of establishing an endowment to support the construction of an American Veterans’ Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington, D.C.
Congressman Kirk supported legislation to allow severely disabled veterans to receive concurrent receipt of both their military retirement pay and their VA disability payments. In addition, Congressman Kirk co-authored legislation to allow service connected disabled veterans to use contractor facilities for dental care by removing the previous restrictions on the use of those facilities.
Assistance for homeless veterans
Last year, 107,000 veterans were homeless on any given night according to the VA Community Homelessness Assessment, Local Education and Networking Groups (CHALENG) report to Congress. While that is an improvement from the 192, 368 homeless veterans reported in 2004, this is still an unacceptable number. That is why Congressman Kirk has supported the Department of Housing and Urban Development/ Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) voucher program, which annually provides 10,000-20,000 housing vouchers for homeless veterans and their families.