The servicemen who fight for our country will have legitimate health benefits to come home to under Barack Obama's proposed 21st Century Department of Veterans' Affairs office he plans to create. This department will provide health care and benefits, including polytrauma vision impairment, prosthetics, spinal cord injury, aging, and women's health, to the millions of veterans who return to the country after service. Currently, adequate health care and benefits are not being provided to veterans, with over 400 thousand claims pending with the Veterans Benefits Administration. Obama plans to stop this problem by making Veteran Affairs a leader of national health care reform so that veterans get the best care possible.

Senator Obama, from a speech in Kansas City, MO, August 21, 2007:

Keeping faith with those who serve must always be a core American value and a cornerstone of American patriotism. Because America's commitment to its servicemen and women begins at enlistment, and it must never end. [1]

Under Obama's plan, all returning service members will get help from the military and the Veteran Affairs with the transition from active duty to civilian life. Also, Obama will fully fund the VA so it has all the resources it needs to serve the veterans who need it, when they need it. Obama will establish a world-class VA Planning Division to avoid future budget shortfalls.

Additionally, Obama will hire additional claims workers, and improve training and accountability so that VA benefit decisions are rated fairly and consistently. He also will transform the paper benefit claims process to an electronic one to reduce errors and improve timeliness. Obama will also establish a national "zero tolerance" policy for veterans falling into homelessness by expanding proven programs and launching innovative services to prevent veterans from falling into homelessness.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[1] — Barack Obama Speech in Kansas City, MO, August 21, 2007