Veterans Day 2009

Each November, our country comes together to honor veterans who served our nation and remember those who paid the ultimate price in preserving our country's freedom. Throughout the history of our nation, brave men and women have answered the call of duty to defend democracy and protect the world from tyranny. From the War for America's Independence to today’s operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, our brave veterans have made unparalleled sacrifices for our country. I am inspired by the courage, professionalism, and patriotism of our men and women in uniform, and am eternally thankful for the sacrifices our troops and their families make for this nation.

Today on Veterans Day, we honor their service and pledge to fulfill our duty to provide earned benefits to these courageous men and women, as well as their families. Congress continues to work hard to pass legislation that honors our veterans’ commitment to our nation and ensures they have access to quality health care, education, and career opportunities. Any instance in which a veteran receives less than the best health care and services this country is able to provide is not only shameful – it's wrong. Caring for our veterans is a moral obligation our country must fulfill.

This Veterans Day is especially significant for Northeast Arkansas. Today, we honor the service and pray for the safe return of 200 recently reactivated service members from our own 875th Engineer Battalion. For those troops and families who make the sacrifice of service, please know that you are always in our thoughts and in our prayers. We are proud of the work you do to protect our freedoms, and are humbled by the sacrifices you and your families must make on behalf of our country.

From my family to yours, we wish all of our troops Godspeed in their return to the loving arms of your families. No other group of Americans has stood stronger and braver for our freedom than our military, especially our 875th. To all the veterans and their families—thank you for your courage, your character, and your strength. Every American owes you a debt of gratitude that words cannot repay.

H.R. 3962 Passes the House

I appreciate the thousands of Arkansans who have called, written, e-mailed, and met with me over the last several months to share their concerns about health care in this country. There is broad agreement that the cost of health care is currently unsustainable for individuals, families, small businesses, and taxpayers. Ensuring that American citizens have access to quality, affordable health care is critical to the long-term strength of our economy.

Throughout the current debate over health insurance reform, I have repeatedly stressed my principles for providing health care and prescription drugs to Americans through the private sector in a way that they can afford. I believe that health care reform must preserve the freedom of individuals to choose their own health plans and providers. I believe that reform should maintain competition among private plans within the marketplace, and that health care choices must continue to be made by physicians and their patients using the best available information. Above all, we must work in a bipartisan and a fiscally responsible way to make sure Americans have access to affordable, high-quality health care.

I voted for H.R. 3962, The Affordable Health Care for America Act, to move the process forward, not to endorse its entire content. This bill is not perfect; however, it represents significant progress in achieving more affordable and better quality health care. This legislation represents compromise among a wide variety of voices from vastly different regions of the country. It prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage to Americans with pre-existing conditions, prohibits federal funding for abortion, and bars illegal immigrants from receiving federal benefits under the bill. In addition, I fought for and was successful in including several priorities for health care reform in this bill, including provisions to provide cheaper prescription drugs for seniors by requiring pharmaceutical companies to negotiate prices with Medicare and filling in the Part D “doughnut hole.” The legislation also preserves access for patients to receive durable medical equipment such as diabetic testing supplies from their local community pharmacist.

For too long insurance companies have found ways to cheat Americans out of the lifesaving care and procedures they desperately need simply because they were more interested in boosting their quarterly profits rather than providing care. One of the most important accomplishments of the House bill is that it puts an end to these practices and ensures that doctors and patients, not insurance companies, make health care decisions. There is no doubt that reform is needed to control rising health care costs, increase quality and value, and to improve access to coverage and care. This legislation is the next step toward that goal.

American Legion Day Established

Today, with the passage of House Resolution 679, we pay tribute to one of our nation's largest and most successful veterans advocacy organizations, the American Legion. Since the Congressional charter was issued on September 16^th, 1919, the American Legion has worked tirelessly to serve American veterans and communities across the nation.Arkansas has the honorable distinction of becoming the first American Legion Department in the United States to be incorporated.

The American Legion was founded under four principles or pillars: the care for our veterans, the care for our children, a strong national defense, and the promotion of Americanism. Over the years, the American Legion has become a preeminent community-service organization, which includes more than 2.5 million members at over 14,000 American Legion posts worldwide.

Every year, members of the American Legion donate thousands of hours of community service in veterans' medical facilities and homes to care for our nation's heroes. They remain committed to upholding the ideals of freedom and democracy, strive to improve the overall quality of life to our nation's servicemen and women, and tirelessly work to make a difference in the lives of fellow Americans.

Now on American Legion Day, we have the opportunity each year to come together and celebrate the organization's long history and distinguished service to the community, state and nation. Millions of people who have been positively affected by the American Legion, as well as the American people are grateful for their efforts in serving our country.

Senator Kennedy: Lifelong Public Servant

Yesterday, our nation suffered the loss of a great public servant, and I felt the great personal loss of a dear friend. Senator Edward Kennedy loved this country and its people, and fought tirelessly to pass numerous laws that improve the lives of ordinary Americans. Wherever people fight for justice, care for the sick, or strive for a more decent life, his spirit will always be preserved.

D-Day: A Time to Remember our Veterans

Sixty-five years ago today in the early morning darkness, a legendary coalition of Allied forces were on a mission to liberate France from Nazi Germany in World War II. Young men from a diverse group of backgrounds joined together as one to fight for a common cause.

As these men battled through enemy fire by land, by air and by sea, the D-Day invasion became known as one of the most daring operations in military history. These brave troops and their leaders knew if they were successful, this attack could create a turning point in World War II and determine the fate of Europe and the world for generations. The courageous soldiers who faced virtually impossible odds were triumphant, and because of their success, they changed the course of history.

Today, we salute the brave veterans of the D-Day invasion, whose tremendous courage remains an inspiration to us. We also honor and pay tribute to all of the Allied forces who gave their lives. In addition, let us continue to remember and pray for those who are currently defending our freedom overseas and their families who await their safe return home. From the Greatest Generation of solders to those serving today – all of them are heroes.

Cuba Travel Restrictions Eased by President

I applaud the President's decision to ease travel restrictions to Cuba. The last 50 years of U.S. policy toward Cuba have proven that unilateral sanctions are not effective.

By lifting the travel restrictions, we are beginning to lay the groundwork for long-term diplomacy and increased trade. In this ailing economy, one of the first things we can do to provide some relief for our farmers and generate increased revenue for our country would be to lift the trade barriers between the U.S. and Cuba. The time has come to reevaluate our hard-lined policies of the past and embrace a new direction for Cuban-American relations.

March 22-28th is Cover the Uninsured Week

March 22-28th is Cover the Uninsured Week. This nationwide effort aims to find ways to increase the dialogue about reforming our nation’s health care system. The goal is to provide affordable health insurance to the 45 million Americans who are currently uninsured.

As wages remain stagnant and other basic costs continue to rise, the skyrocketing price of health care consumes a greater amount of every American's budget each year. With more and more families faced with difficult financial decisions during these economic times, something has to give. Unfortunately, too many Americans are forced to choose between providing their family with basics like groceries and rent or health care. This is wrong.

The rising cost of health care is not only a burden for families and businesses, it is an increasing strain on our federal budget. In Arkansas, the number of uninsured has grown to 485,000 individuals. In addition, each year approximately $56 billion in uncompensated care for the uninsured is absorbed by our nation's health system, driving up the cost of insurance for everyone.

Our country's economic recovery and global competitiveness depends on finding a way to provide American businesses and families access to quality, affordable health care. Cover the Uninsured Week reminds us that we must take swift, smart action to provide the growing number of uninsured Americans the health care they are unable to afford. Access to health care is a right, not a privilege for a select few and we must do everything we can to reverse this unfortunate trend.