The Veterans of Foreign Wars Political Action Committee recently endorsed Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) for re-election, citing his "strong support for veterans, national security/defense, and military personnel issues."

          "It is vital that we stand strong to take care of the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much to serve and protect our country. That's why I coauthored legislation to reimburse military families who bought body armor and equipment for active duty relatives overseas on the frontlines in Iraq and Afghanistan. I also coauthored a bipartisan GI Bill for the 21st Century to open the doors to college for thousands of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.  Our soldiers and sailors have a duty to protect America, but we have a duty to provide for them when they return and retire," said Sen. Lautenberg.

          Sen. Lautenberg coauthored a law to require the Bush Administration to reimburse families who purchased body armor, weapons, and global positioning devices for their parents, spouses, sons, or daughters fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Senator made clear that families should not be bearing the cost of making sure our servicemen and women have the equipment they need in a combat zone.

          Sen. Lautenberg also teamed up with his colleagues and fellow veterans Jim Webb (D-VA), Chuck Hagel (R-NE) and John Warner (R-VA) to author the landmark GI Bill for the 21st Century, which became law this past summer. This new GI Bill greatly improves the current Montgomery GI Bill by providing the cost of full tuition at a state university for veterans who have served since 9/11.

          Stressing the importance of providing those who have served our country with quality healthcare at an affordable price, Sen. Lautenberg - along with Republican colleague Sen. Hagel - wrote a law that blocks increases in prescription drug co-pays for military retirees proposed by the Bush Administration.

          Also, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Sen. Lautenberg is working to increase funding for veterans health care and benefits. As a veteran himself, he knows the pledge made by the government to former servicemen and women and he will continue to fight to ensure the government honors that pledge.