Rep. Miller offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 250.

            A resolution to memorialize the United States Congress to fund veterans programs, including health care, fully and fairly.

            Whereas, When we send our men and women in the Armed Forces to war, there is an unstated compact between the government and people back home and those members of the military. This compact goes beyond the language of enlistment contracts that spell out specific terms of service. The compact holds that when these Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, and Airmen return home from war that we will help make their lives whole again. Even a veteran who comes home from war unwounded and healthy has lost valuable years of educational opportunities and career experience in order to serve in uniform. Those who return with wounds both obvious and unseen will carry an additional burden from their service in our name. These veterans especially need our nation's help to live their lives as completely as possible; and

            Whereas, Unlike service contracts, the compact our society has with our veterans can only be enforced by our good will and conscience. There is no authority to appeal a failure of our society to spend the necessary resources to support veterans and address their health needs for decades after the gunfire falls silent. Sadly, we have at times in our history neglected our veterans in the years after mustering out at home. Money is always scarce at budget time, with many competing goals to fund. Unfortunately, the gratitude for sacrifice and service that at first makes upholding our social contract a priority fades with time; and

            Whereas, Today our people rightly support the troops regardless of political ideology. We recognize that these volunteers are doing their duty and fighting honorably. The social contract between our government and veterans is as strong now as it will likely ever be. We owe it to the veterans who will seek help over the next two decades to establish a baseline of support that will withstand the dulling effects of time. We must fully fund veterans programs, including health care, and make sure the services are fairly provided, so that future legislators and officials will continue to fulfill the obligation we have accepted now by sending our sons and daughters to war; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the United States Congress to fund veterans programs, including health care, fully and fairly; 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.