We, the undersigned, call upon Gov. Pat McCrory and the NC General Assembly to repeal legislation that results in a reduction of services and benefits for North Carolina’s 766,000 veterans.
Led by Speaker of the House Thom Tillis, a regressive legislature has cut unemployment benefits and eliminated the Earned Income Tax Credit. The Legislature voted against benefits for returned and disabled veterans, and opposed funding for veterans’ health care.
Incidences of Traumatic Brain Injury, PTSD, homelessness, and suicide are increasing annually. More than 500 NC veterans died by suicide from 2009-2011. The Veterans Administration remains in crisis.
Cuts in veterans’ entitlements undermine their re-integration into civilian life. We urge the Legislature of “the most military friendly state” to move forward, together, with our veterans, by revising public policy to support our veterans and their families.
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Background Material
Support Our Troops – Bring Our War Dollars Home – backup material (PDF)
How We Can Help Our Service Members and Veterans
Additional Sources
Sen. Burr Draws Veterans’ ire, but he’s been their friend, too
In February, 2014, Sen Richard Burr led the Republican opposition to the Comprehensive Veterans Health and Benefits and Military Retirement Pay Restoration Act of 2014.The bill would have expanded a caregiver program for disabled post-9/11 veterans. Other provisions provided for better access to mental health care and treatment for veterans who suffered sexual assaults while in the military.
Tillis voted against a bipartisan budget in 2008 that would have given tax breaks for North Carolina’s disabled veterans.
- Tillis opposes raising the minimum wage that which would benefit 46,000 North Carolina veterans and blocked Medicaid expansion in the state that could cover 23,000 veterans.
- Tillis eliminated the Earned Income Tax Credit that was used by 64,000 North Carolina military families.
North Carolina by the Numbers…Governor’s Working Group
Total number of Service member dependents in North Carolina: 190,896
Families/Service members with children: 43%
Number of Uninsured Veterans in North Carolina: 54,000
North Carolina is home to nearly 800,000 veterans and has the greatest number of active duty troops on the East Coast. Currently it is estimated that 20% of all homeless individuals in North Carolina are Veterans.
The Burden of Suicide in North Carolina… NC Division of Public Health Injury and Violence Prevention
Military veterans are prone to suicidal behavior, as demonstrated by the overall veteran suicide rate 1.5 times the suicide rate in NC. The “Veteran Suicide” section provides statistics for NC veterans.
Mental health care found wanting at North Carolina VA hospital-LA Times
For new mental health patients, the average wait time is 104 days at the Durham VA Medical Center. North Carolina’s four VA hospitals struggle amid one of nation’s largest veteran communities
Joe Burton: War means wounded vets
Armchair warriors in Washington who send young people to war must be willing to appropriate the funds needed to care for the wounded when they return.
The Grunts: Damned if They Kill, Damned if They Don’t, David Wood for Huffington Post:
“War and its aftermath belong to all of us, and are our responsibility.”
Soul Repair: Recovering from Moral Injury after War, Rita Nakashima Brock and Gabriella Lettini
“To violate your conscience is to commit moral suicide.”
Rev. Herman Keitzer, Jr, Colonel and Chaplain, U.S. Army, Ret.