Veterans
Information regarding my stance on Veterans' issues.
October 30, 2013
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Judy Chu (D-CA) introduced bipartisan legislation to improve the GI Bill educational benefits counseling process. The Veterans Education Counseling Act, which is co-sponsored by Representatives Mark Takano (D-CA), Paul Cook (R-CA) and Jeff Denham (R-CA), makes GI Bill benefits more transparent by directing the Department of Veterans Affairs to clearly differentiate between Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation and Chapter 36 Educational Counseling.
Issues:Veterans
October 2, 2012
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-32), along with several other Representatives, sent a letter to the General Counsel of the Department of Defense urging them to support a specific anti-hazing statute in the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Over the last few years, several shocking cases of military hazing have occurred throughout the armed services. This includes the hazing of Army Private Danny Chen, who tragically died 1 year ago on October 3rd after enduring weeks of physical and verbal hazing. In April 2011, the Congresswoman’s nephew, Marine Lance Corporal Harry Lew, took his own life in a foxhole shortly after being hazed and abused for several hours. After sending the letter, Congresswoman Chu released the following statement:
Issues:Veterans
September 10, 2012
Military hazing is both a political and personal matter for U.S. Rep. Judy Chu. Her nephew killed himself last year, reportedly after being hazed by fellow Marines. She talks with host Michel Martin about her efforts to strengthen laws against hazing in the armed forces.
Issues:Veterans
August 15, 2012
Washington, DC – On Monday, August 13, the second ruling in the Private Danny Chen military hazing case was delivered. The defendant, Specialist Ryan J. Offutt, pleaded guilty to one count of hazing and two specifications of maltreatment, receiving a six-month prison sentence as well as a demotion in rank and a bad conduct discharge. Congresswoman Chu, who lost her own nephew, Lance Cpl Harry Lew, to military hazing in April of 2011, released the following statement:
Issues:Veterans
July 19, 2012
By bringing the war in Afghanistan to a close, we can save the lives of hundreds of U.S. service members, save tens of billions of dollars, and bring about the inevitable transition to Afghan rule. At a time when our economy is in such dire straits, we need the $230 million we spend in Afghanistan each day to be spent here. At a time when suicide is a greater threat than enemy fire, we need to help our heroes mend. And at a time when the same troops are being sent back for three, four or even five deployments, it’s time to come home.
Issues:Veterans
July 11, 2012
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-32) introduced the bipartisan Student Veterans Academic Counseling Enhancement Act of 2012 – the Student Veterans ACE Act – to support student veterans pursuing their college degree. Veterans face many challenges to their academic success, from struggling to readjust to civilian life, to navigating academic requirements, finding community among new peers, to properly budgeting their GI Bill benefits. The Student Veterans ACE Act will help ensure student veterans’ academic success by requiring the VA to provide regular, individualized, one-on-one educational counseling on an opt-out basis to all veterans using the GI Bill, regardless of where they go to school. The bill also requires the VA to track veteran graduation rates, for the first time, and helps protect veterans from predatory schools. Rep. Chu released the following statement as her legislation was introduced:
Issues:Veterans
May 25, 2012
The price of freedom has never been cheap, and none have paid more dearly for it than the hundreds of thousands of patriotic men and women who have given their lives to preserve our liberty. This weekend, we pay tribute to the incredible sacrifices that they and their families made so you and I can live the American way of life.
Issues:Veterans
May 18, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and with it, thorough military hazing prevention policies called for by Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-32).
Issues:Veterans
May 7, 2012
Today, Representatives Judy Chu, Elijah E. Cummings, Mike Honda, and other House Members are introducing legislation to prevent hazing in our armed services.
Issues:Veterans