Replace Steve Buyer As Chair of House Veterans Affairs Committee

July 11, 2006

This petition is a response to the measures Steve Buyer R-IN has taken to reduce the benefits our veterans receive when they return home from foreign wars.

In January 2005, the Republican leadership forced out Rep. Christopher Smith, R-N.J., as the chairman of Verteran's Affairs in the US House of Representatives. He was a great ally for the issues close to veterans, but the leadership disliked how close we was to veterans groups, as well as his willingness to expand benefits in a time of war.

Rep. Steve Buyer R-I.N., was the replacement chosen for Rep. Smith, and he has been interminable in his efforts to cut the benefits of veterans. He has attempted to add enrollment fees for entire groups of veterans, increase prescription co-pays for medication, he has sought to redefine a service-connected disability as being only combat related, ect., ect., ect.

Last year (2005) Steve Buyer received a 0 rating on pro-veteran votes from Project Vote Smart. And this as the Chairman of the House Veterans Committee.

In short, Steve Buyer does not have the priorities of veterans at the top of his list. When waiting lists at VA facilities are ever-increasing and America is bringing home hundeds of thousands of new veterans of foreign wars, our country needs to be looking towards giving our veterans the best possible care, and not the least possible benefits.