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Veterans I have the utmost respect for our nation's veterans. I was proud to sponsor the Agent Orange Respiratory Cancer Act of 2001, H.R. 1587, which became law in December 2001 when it was added as a provision of H.R. 1291. This bill will make important changes to law enabling certain cancer sufferers to obtain benefits and assistance from the VA that would otherwise have been denied. I attempted to increase the budget allocation for veterans $3 billion through a budget amendment that I offered earlier this year. Finally, I am a cosponsor of legislation that will permit full concurrent receipt for retired military personnel who also are disabled veterans. I believe that the current law that prohibits concurrent receipt is wrong and disrespectful to those who've served our nation, and support efforts, including language in the FY2003 defense authorization, that would resume concurrent receipt. Our veterans have earned no less than to get both their retired pay and disability benefits.
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