Today’s the day we should pay tribute to those who’ve served our country in the military on this Veteran’s Day, and Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley says “Their sacrifices helped preserve the bounty of blessings we enjoy as Americans.” Grassley says it’s also important to “pray for the patriots whose lives are on the line right now in the country of Iraq. Their sacrifices help guarantee America’s promise for generations to come.” He notes the deaths of three Iowan in uniform in Iraq in the past several days. Grassley says he’s thrilled to see a bill he authored win approval to help veterans’ families. After a year of delay, Congress passed Grassley’s legislation last week called the Military Tax Fairness Act. It doubles the death gratuity benefit from six-to-twelve-thousand dollars and makes the money tax-free. He says it also includes changes to help with the sale of residences for active duty personnel, including active Guard members and Reservists. Grassley says he’ll have veterans on his mind Friday in a hearing. He’ll testify before the Senate Energy Committee about “serious problems” with the way the Energy Department has managed the programs that were supposed to help Cold War veterans who suffered illnesses from their work at the Iowa Army Ammunition plant. Grassley says the responsibility for processing claims made under the compensation program should be moved from the Energy Department to the Labor Department.
