Congressman John Adler has the privilege of serving more than 66,000 veterans and the nation’s only tri-service Joint Base. As the only New Jersey member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, he works in Washington each day to make sure that the men and women that wore our nation’s uniform receive every benefit and opportunity a grateful nation can offer.
At home, the Congressman meets regularly with his Veterans’ Advisory Board and hosts workshops to connect veterans with their benefits. He also makes it a priority to visit VFW Posts, American Legion halls, and other Veterans Service Organization throughout his district.
Veterans’ Medical Care
Nothing is more outrageous than a veteran who put his or her life on the line receiving substandard medical care. When news reports exposed the Philadelphia VA Medical Center for mistreating almost 100 veterans, Congressman Adler immediately demanded a congressional investigation. Now the Congressman is pushing legislation he wrote to increase oversight and accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs. At the Congressman’s insistence, the Philadelphia VA has been punished for its actions and the bill has received hearings in the House and Senate.
When it came to light that veterans might be billed through private insurance for their service-connected disability treatments, Congressman Adler introduced legislation that would permanently prevent the Department of Veterans Affairs from moving forward on any such proposal. The Congressman will never accept anything but the best medical care possible for our veterans.
Veterans’ Benefits
Our veterans are willing to sacrifice it all for the safety of our families. The least the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) can do is give veterans a full-fledged effort to make sure they receive every benefit to which they are entitled. Unfortunately, too often, the VA gives veterans the run around instead.
One of the Congressman’s first acts in Congress was to make sure veterans got tax relief in the stimulus package. They fought hard for our country during times of war, and they deserved tax relief during tough economic times.
After hearing how veterans were denied benefits claims due to rigid filing deadlines, Congressman Adler introduced legislation to help fix the problem. The Fair Access to Veterans Benefits Act would require the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans' Claims (Veterans Court) to hear appeals by veterans of administrative decisions denying them benefits when circumstances beyond their control – often the very service-related disabilities that entitle them to benefits – render them unable to meet the deadline for filing an appeal.
Education
We can never thank our veterans enough for their service. Congressman John Adler was a strong supporter of the new GI bill to make sure that veterans can afford the opportunities that come with a good education.
Congressman Adler passed a resolution to encourage institutions of higher education in the country to seek membership in the Service members Opportunity Colleges Consortium, which helps coordinate postsecondary educational opportunities for members of the Armed Forces, their families, and veterans.
