Message from Rodriguez, "Bring America Back"

Ciro Rodriguez (photo)
Congressional District 23 candidate

Ciro Rodriguez says, "Bring America back.
Let's keep the promise to our Veterans."

The New Generation of Veterans

As of October 6th,3008 soldiers have died in Iraqi and Afghanistan. 20,687 have been wounded only in Iraqi with an additional 961 in Afghanistan .

This is according to the Department of Defense.The brave soldiers who make the ultimate sacrifice and who leave grieving wives and children behind should not be left behind.

They are trusting us to take care of their loved ones for them.The soldiers of today will be tomorrow's veterans. We need to be there for them by providing for their needs.

The Need for Adequate Funding for Veterans
The CBO (Congressional Budget Oversight), a non partisan group, indicated that the VA needed $6.1 billion dollars just to meet currant services. This includes over a billion dollars for Veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq.

From 2003-2006 the VA will spend $100 million on disabilities compensation benefits to soldiers for injuries sustained in Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition, $50 million more for payments to surviving dependents of service members who died.

VA costs for 2003 were $300 million medical care for veterans of operation Iraqi Freedom and for 2006 it is projected to be $400 million for medical and rehabilitation facilities. (CBO data report, "Estimated Costs of U.S. Operations in Iraq Under Two Specified Scenarios"; July 13th)

Ciro Rodriguez addresses the needs of Veterans

We need legislation that would give Veterans the respect and honor they deserve by making the Veteran Administration be directly funded based on services provided without having to fight for money every year.

All Veteran's organizations have endorsed this legislation. Some of the organizations are American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America, and Disabled Veterans organizations are a few.