Archives_NN2 Opinion_NN1 Editorials_NN2 Leave_VV0 no_AT veteran_NN1 behind_II When_RRQ our_APPGE nation_NN1 asked_VVD Raymond_NP1 Federico_NP1 to_TO serve_VVI ,_, he_PPHS1 answered_VVD the_AT call_NN1 ._. 
Raymond_NP1 joined_VVD the_AT U.S._NP1 Navy_NN1 and_CC served_VVD in_II Southeast_ND1 Asia_NP1 ,_, seeing_VVG combat_NN1 from_II the_AT decks_NN2 of_IO troop_NN1 transports_VVZ and_CC other_JJ ships_NN2 ._. 
He_PPHS1 manned_VVD a_AT1 .50-caliber_JJ machine_NN1 gun_NN1 on_II boats_NN2 patrolling_VVG the_AT rivers_NN2 of_IO Vietnam_NP1 ._. 
Patriots_NN2 such_II21 as_II22 Raymond_NP1 are_VBR at_II the_AT forefront_NN1 of_IO our_APPGE minds_NN2 as_CSA we_PPIS2 mark_VV0 Veterans_NN2 '_GE Day_NNT1 ._. 
But_CCB honoring_VVG the_AT service_NN1 of_IO veterans_NN2 like_II him_PPHO1 must_VM go_VVI beyond_II mere_JJ words_NN2 ._. 
Deeds_NN2 are_VBR required_VVN and_CC Raymond_NP1 is_VBZ among_II the_AT many_DA2 veterans_NN2 who_PNQS know_VV0 just_RR how_RGQ serious_JJ that_CST requirement_NN1 is_VBZ ._. 
After_II firing_VVG the_AT big_JJ guns_NN2 with_IW no_AT ear_NN1 protection_NN1 for_IF almost_RR four_MC years_NNT2 ,_, Raymond_NP1 developed_VVD tinnitus_JJ and_CC hearing_NN1 loss_NN1 and_CC filed_VVN for_IF a_AT1 service-related_JJ disability_NN1 ._. 
Earlier_RRR this_DD1 year_NNT1 ,_, Raymond_NP1 was_VBDZ working_VVG for_IF a_AT1 Tucson_NP1 automobile_NN1 dealer_NN1 ,_, but_CCB lost_VVD his_APPGE job_NN1 and_CC had_VHD trouble_NN1 making_VVG his_APPGE mortgage_NN1 payments_NN2 when_RRQ the_AT business_NN1 closed_VVD ._. 
Things_NN2 became_VVD a_RR21 little_RR22 easier_JJR for_IF Raymond_NP1 and_CC his_APPGE wife_NN1 when_CS Congress_NN1 passed_VVD the_AT Veterans_NN2 '_GE Compensation_NN1 Cost-of-Living_NN1 Adjustment_NN1 Act_NN1 ._. 
Like_II many_DA2 bills_NN2 concerning_II our_APPGE veterans_NN2 ,_, this_DD1 one_PN1 had_VHD strong_JJ bipartisan_JJ support_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 increased_VVD the_AT annual_JJ compensation_NN1 rate_NN1 for_IF disabled_JJ veterans_NN2 and_CC their_APPGE dependent_JJ survivors_NN2 by_II the_AT same_DA cost-of-living_NN1 adjustment_NN1 payable_JJ to_II Social_JJ Security_NN1 recipients_NN2 ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 certainly_RR helped_VVN so_CS we_PPIS2 did_VDD n't_XX get_VVI behind_RL in_II our_APPGE bills_NN2 ,_, "_" Raymond_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
On_II the_AT battlefield_NN1 ,_, the_AT military_JJ pledges_NN2 to_TO leave_VVI no_AT soldier_NN1 behind_RL ._. 
As_II a_AT1 nation_NN1 ,_, we_PPIS2 must_VM pledge_VVI that_CST when_CS service_NN1 members_NN2 such_II21 as_II22 Raymond_NP1 return_VV0 home_RL ,_, we_PPIS2 leave_VV0 no_AT veteran_NN1 behind_RL ._. 
To_TO help_VVI fulfill_VVI this_DD1 solemn_JJ commitment_NN1 ,_, I_PPIS1 am_VBM proposing_VVG needed_VVN changes_NN2 to_II the_AT Post_NN1 9/11_MF GI_NN1 Bill_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ went_VVD into_II effect_NN1 in_II August_NPM1 ._. 
This_DD1 bill_NN1 restores_VVZ the_AT promise_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 full_JJ ,_, four-year_JJ college_NN1 education_NN1 for_IF Iraq_NP1 and_CC Afghanistan_NP1 veterans_NN2 ._. 
These_DD2 benefits_NN2 will_VM be_VBI available_JJ to_II 2.1_MC million_NNO veterans_NN2 and_CC to_II all_DB children_NN2 of_IO fallen_JJ soldiers_NN2 since_CS 9/11_MF ._. 
This_DD1 is_VBZ an_AT1 excellent_JJ bill_NN1 ,_, but_CCB I_PPIS1 want_VV0 to_TO make_VVI it_PPH1 better_RRR ._. 
Some_DD retired_JJ veterans_NN2 eligible_JJ for_IF education_NN1 benefits_NN2 are_VBR unlikely_JJ to_TO use_VVI them_PPHO2 ,_, because_CS they_PPHS2 have_VH0 degrees_NN2 or_CC went_VVD on_RP to_II careers_NN2 ._. 
I_PPIS1 have_VH0 proposed_VVN that_CST eligible_JJ veterans_NN2 who_PNQS retired_VVD before_II Aug._NPM1 1_MC1 ,_, 2009_MC have_VH0 the_AT right_NN1 to_TO transfer_VVI those_DD2 benefits_NN2 to_II other_JJ family_NN1 members_NN2 ._. 
I_PPIS1 also_RR am_VBM proposing_VVG that_DD1 housing_NN1 allowances_NN2 under_II the_AT bill_NN1 be_VBI available_JJ to_II veterans_NN2 who_PNQS take_VV0 classes_NN2 online_RR ._. 
And_CC I_PPIS1 am_VBM asking_VVG that_CST veterans_NN2 who_PNQS received_VVD benefits_NN2 under_II the_AT Montgomery_NP1 GI_NN1 Bill_NN1 also_RR be_VBI eligible_JJ ,_, under_II some_DD circumstances_NN2 ,_, for_IF benefits_NN2 under_II the_AT Post_NN1 9/11_MF GI_NN1 Bill_NN1 ,_, up_II21 to_II22 a_AT1 maximum_JJ total_NN1 of_IO 48_MC months_NNT2 of_IO benefits_NN2 ._. 
This_DD1 year_NNT1 Congress_NN1 has_VHZ passed_VVN numerous_JJ bills_NN2 to_TO improve_VVI the_AT lives_NN2 of_IO the_AT men_NN2 and_CC women_NN2 who_PNQS have_VH0 served_VVN in_II the_AT United_NP1 States_NP1 Armed_JJ Forces_NN2 ._. 
Each_DD1 bill_NN1 will_VM benefit_VVI our_APPGE nation_NN1 's_GE heroes_NN2 ,_, past_JJ and_CC present_NN1 ,_, and_CC the_AT military_JJ families_NN2 who_PNQS support_VV0 them_PPHO2 ._. 
Among_II those_DD2 bills_NN2 was_VBDZ the_AT Women_NN2 Veterans_NN2 Health_NN1 Care_NN1 Improvement_NN1 Act_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ will_VM provide_VVI better_JJR healthcare_NN1 services_NN2 for_IF the_AT 1.8_MC million_NNO women_NN2 veterans_NN2 ._. 
We_PPIS2 also_RR passed_VVD the_AT Veterans_NN2 Health_NN1 Care_NN1 Budget_NN1 Reform_NN1 and_CC Transparency_NN1 Act_NN1 ,_, which_DDQ authorizes_VVZ Congress_NN1 to_TO approve_VVI Veterans_NN2 Affairs_NN2 medical_JJ care_NN1 appropriations_NN2 one_MC1 year_NNT1 in_II advance_NN1 ._. 
This_DD1 will_VM help_VVI assure_VVI that_CST veterans_NN2 '_GE medical_JJ care_NN1 will_VM be_VBI delivered_VVN quickly_RR and_CC will_VM end_VVI a_AT1 cycle_NN1 of_IO late_JJ payments_NN2 by_II Congress_NN1 to_II the_AT VA_FW ._. 
Legislation_NN1 ,_, though_CS ,_, is_VBZ only_RR half_DB the_AT battle_NN1 ._. 
This_DD1 is_VBZ why_RRQ I_PPIS1 am_VBM urging_VVG the_AT Veterans_NN2 Department_NN1 to_TO establish_VVI a_AT1 much-needed_JJ Vet_NN1 Center_NN1 in_II Cochise_NP1 County_NN1 ._. 
And_CC this_DD1 is_VBZ why_RRQ I_ZZ1 and_CC other_JJ members_NN2 of_IO Congress_NN1 successfully_RR persuaded_VVD the_AT VA_FW to_TO change_VVI a_AT1 policy_NN1 that_CST required_JJ Southern_JJ Arizona_NP1 veterans_NN2 to_TO travel_VVI to_II Phoenix_NP1 to_TO collect_VVI emergency_NN1 education_NN1 benefits_NN2 ._. 
As_II a_AT1 member_NN1 of_IO the_AT House_NN1 Armed_JJ Services_NN2 Committee_NN1 who_PNQS represents_VVZ a_AT1 district_NN1 with_IW two_MC military_JJ installations_NN2 and_CC a_AT1 large_JJ number_NN1 of_IO veterans_NN2 ,_, I_PPIS1 know_VV0 how_RGQ important_JJ it_PPH1 is_VBZ to_TO keep_VVI our_APPGE promises_NN2 to_II the_AT courageous_JJ men_NN2 and_CC women_NN2 who_PNQS served_VVD in_II our_APPGE armed_JJ forces_NN2 ._. 
I_PPIS1 also_RR know_VV0 that_CST I_PPIS1 am_VBM far_RG21 from_RG22 alone_JJ ._. 
Southern_JJ Arizonans_NN2 ,_, like_II most_DAT Americans_NN2 ,_, are_VBR deeply_RR appreciative_JJ of_IO the_AT dedication_NN1 of_IO our_APPGE service_NN1 men_NN2 and_CC women_NN2 and_CC their_APPGE families_NN2 ._. 
We_PPIS2 must_VM continue_VVI keeping_VVG our_APPGE commitments_NN2 to_II them_PPHO2 --_JJ with_IW words_NN2 and_CC deeds_NN2 ._. 
