Reps. Kathleen Law, Hopgood, Condino, Sak, Anderson, Alma Smith, Accavitti, Bieda, Byrnes, Caul, Clemente, Cushingberry, Gillard, Gonzales, LaJoy, Lemmons, Jr., Lipsey, Marleau, Mayes, Miller, Palsrok, Pearce, Polidori, Spade, Stakoe, Stewart, Tobocman, Vagnozzi, Vander Veen, Wojno, Bennett, Brown, Byrum, Cheeks, Clack, Emmons, Garfield, Gleason, Green, Hansen, Hood, Leland, Meisner, Mortimer, Nofs, Plakas, Proos, Rocca, Waters, Zelenko and Farrah offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 303.

            A resolution to memorialize the United States Congress to increase funding to support health care for veterans returning from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

            Whereas, The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides vital health care services to our veterans after they complete their military service. Health care benefits tailored to our veterans are part of the support our nation provides in exchange for the risks that our military personnel shoulder to defend us. While most veterans come home healthy and whole, those who are injured physically, suffer from illness, or are scarred emotionally by the experience of war need VA health services tailored to their unique needs; and

            Whereas, The range of health services that the VA provides to our veterans is great. These services include programs addressing cancer, homelessness, post-traumatic stress disorder, women's health, physical rehabilitation, and other more focused programs such as those combating Agent Orange from Vietnam and Gulf War Illness from Desert Storm. Yet during war, as our troops continue to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan, the needs of our new veterans create much greater demand for the care and expertise of our VA health care providers. In addition, just as the conditions of Vietnam and Desert Storm created health issues unique to the veterans of those wars, veterans ill or injured from service in Iraq or Afghanistan face unique challenges that must be understood and addressed; and

            Whereas, Our society's duty to our soldiers, Marines, airmen, and sailors who suffer from the impact of protecting us in battle does not diminish because the needs grow. Our military personnel are volunteers who join knowing that service in distant and dangerous lands is a certainty. Just as certain, some will return unable to simply put on civilian clothes and continue with their lives. It is our responsibility to make sure that our veterans know that receiving the health care services they need to overcome the injuries and illness they endure is just as certain; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the United States Congress to increase funding to support health care for veterans returning from duty in Iraq and Afghanistan; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.