Kuhl starts caucus to help veterans adjust after combat?

Kuhl starts caucus to help veterans adjust after combat
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle - Rochester,NY,USA

Justina Wang • Staff writer • July 3, 2008

Announcing the start of a bipartisan House caucus to address veterans' mental health issues, U.S. Rep. Randy Kuhl, R-Hammondsport, promised Wednesday to push for funding and legislation that would help returning soldiers adjust after combat.

During the announcement at the Canandaigua Veterans Affairs Medical Center, a few groups of veterans and Democrats challenged Kuhl's voting record on veterans' bills and the effectiveness of a caucus.

Later, in a meeting with the Democrat and Chronicle editorial board, Kuhl said he defends every vote he has cast, calling them independent and well thought-out. He said that with the current Democratic majority, he couldn't support every bill that included benefits for veterans.

But the newly formed 24-member caucus, he said, will meet with veterans and mental health experts to recommend better legislation to help returning soldiers. Though other legislative committees have worked to address veterans' issues, this caucus is the first to focus specifically on their mental health, Kuhl said.

Depression and post-traumatic stress "can affect not only the (returning) soldier, but certainly family members and loved ones," he said. "We must take action."

Rep. Thomas Reynolds, R-Clarence, also a member of the caucus who joined Kuhl for the announcement Wednesday, said veterans advocates have spoken to individual congressmen about the need, but legislators need to join together to budget funds for programs.

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Where has he been all this time? Is he doing this so that he can use it to get re-elected? They have been holding hearings for a very long time now and there is no excuse for not paying attention!