Congressional Candidate John Stephen Announces Plan For Military Personnel, Veterans; Releases Veterans Coalition

For Immediate Release                                         Greg MooreAugust 7, 2008                                    (603) 206-1223 x1013
Congressional Candidate John Stephen Announces Plan For Military Personnel, Veterans; Releases Veterans Coalition
CONCORD, NH- 1st District Congressional candidate John Stephen today released his "Call to Action" plan for America's active duty military, National Guard, reserves and veterans at a press conference at the Legislative Office Building.  The plan calls for expanding choice for veterans' health care by allowing them to receive care at any qualified health provider, not just a Veterans Administration facility.  In addition, the proposal accelerates the phase-in of concurrent receipt of retirement benefits for disabled veterans, calls for a full-service VA in New Hampshire, stops a proposed enrollment fee for Tricare, restores the POW/MIA designation for those fighting in the War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan, improves transition services for those returning home from war and coordinates support for families of armed service members call to action overseas.
"All Americans need to recognize the importance of the service these brave men and women have provided and make sure they have the services they need," said Stephen.  "This should not be a partisan or political issue.  We must send the clear message that we all support our troops and veterans.  This plan focuses our efforts on getting our military personnel and veterans the resources they need in the best way possible.  This is the least we can do to repay their service."
Stephen also released his Veterans coalition today, a group of over 125 former members of the armed services who are supporting Stephen's candidacy.  This group will advise Stephen on veterans' issues and work to develop grassroots support among the veteran community across the district.
"I am thrilled to have the support of so many brave American men and women who have put their lives on the line in service to our country," added Stephen.  "This group has already offered me a number of great ideas and I will work closely with them throughout my campaign and while I am in Congress to ensure that our veterans get the respect and services they need to transition back into civilian life and lead healthy lives.  Our veterans are among the greatest resources we have as a nation."
John Stephen is the former Commissioner of Health and Human Services.  Prior to that position, he served as the Assistant Commissioner of Safety, where he also worked as the state's first Homeland Security Coordinator.  Stephen also served as a prosecutor for 10 years, in Hillsborough County and as an Assistant Attorney General.  He is a Manchester resident.###
Attached:  Call to Action for America's active duty Military, Guard, Reserves and Veterans               Veterans for Stephen Coalition

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1. Choice for our veterans in receiving care- Today, our veterans often have to travel long distances to get their care at VA facilities.  We ought to be emphasizing choice and improving competition by allowing our veterans to receive their care at a medical facility of their choice near them.  Today, veterans in the North Country have to travel to White River Junction, VT to receive care, sometimes driving up to five hours to get care, when they could get care at a facility nearby.  We need to provide choice to our veterans by giving them a card that they could use at any hospital across the country to receive care.  This competition would improve services while at the same time increasing access for our veterans.  The technology already exists within the federal government to move forward on this, as it is already done with Tricare and Medicare.

1. Make sure that New Hampshire has a full service VA- New Hampshire is the only state without a full-service VA facility; a deplorable fact, given the large number of veterans who live in the state.  We need our VA facilities to become centers of excellence for service-related conditions, and that starts by ensuring that the Manchester VA again becomes full-service hospital.  As Congressman, I will join our delegation to advocate ensuring that New Hampshire again is able to offer our veterans a fully operational facility.

1. Accelerate the phase-in of concurrent receipt for disabled veterans- Concurrent receipt allows retired disabled veterans to receive both their disability payments and military retirement.  For years, the Department of Defense deducted the disability payments from the retirement of veterans.  In 2004, Congress allowed concurrent receipt, phased in over 10 years.  We should move to allow full concurrent receipt immediately, and not wait until 2013.  The cost of this could easily be offset by cutting the massive amounts of pork throughout the budget.

1. Stop the proposed enrollment fees for Tricare for retired military- The Department of Defense has proposed large enrollment fees for military retirees accessing Tricare, the federal health care program for retired veterans.  Congress has put a temporary hold on these new fees, and the ban should be permanent.  The DoD's retirement gift to those who have made their career military service should not be a large bill in order to access your retirement benefits.

1. Immediately Restore the POW/MIA designation to those fighting the War on Terror- The Department of Defense should restore the POW/MIA designation for those who are captured in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The troops there are participating in the greater War on Terrorism, and if they are captured or go missing, they should be given the same status as in other wars.  We need to change this policy immediately to restore the POW/MIA status.

1. Make sure that returning troops have access to appropriate services- I have seen firsthand the need for services for our returning men and women coming home from overseas.  Easter Seals, working with many businesses, concerned citizens, volunteers and the state of New Hampshire, has put together a model program here called Veterans Count.  This program provides critical social services for troops and families, during pre-deployment, deployment and after the return from service.  The Department of Defense must work closely with local agencies like this across the country to ensure the transition to civilian life is as smooth as possible.  There must be a plan to deal with the physical, emotional, personal and work-related return for military, Guard and Reserve members so that they have the support they need and are welcomed home.

1. Make sure that children of service members called to serve get the care they need- Many service members called to duty overseas leave their children behind, often to be cared for by other relatives, such as grandparents, aunts and uncles.  The Department of Defense must work closely with other human services agencies to ensure that these children, and their guardians, have the resources they need with their parent or parents stationed overseas.  It is hard to imagine that service members can stay focused on their mission if they are worrying about their children or those who are caring for them.

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