Veterans deserve our help

Published 9:53 am Thursday, November 15, 2012

It seems fitting that, just days after Veterans Day, our leaders in Washington, D.C. are working together to take care of the men and women who have served our country.

The Senate approved legislation, cosponsored by Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, to increase veterans’ compensation through a cost-of-living adjustment.

“We do everything we can to protect our soldiers in times of war,” Brown said in a prepared statement. “And we need to continue to do whatever we can for our veterans when they return home. That is why this cost-of-living increase is so important. With rising food, fuel, and housing costs, we must ensure that Ohio’s veterans and their families receive the benefits they’ve earned and deserve.”

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According to Brown’s office, the law would do a number of things including:

> Give veterans and their families an extra $500 in benefits for the 2013 year;

> Adjust cost-of-living rates for almost 4 million veterans and their families to guarantee that their benefits grow along with inflation hikes;

> Increase disability compensation for veterans and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.

Hopefully a similar measure will quickly move through the House.

Taking care of the heroes who have fought for our freedom should be a top priority — before the political games resume.