Fighting for those who fought to protect our freedom and security by giving our troops the best chance to get ahead when they return home

(SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ) – Linda Stender today highlighted the need for a change in the way Washington D.C. treats our veterans, so that we better support those who have sacrificed in service of this nation. From providing educational opportunities to making sure we deliver on healthcare and other promised benefits, she will fight for America’s returning men and women in uniform.

"'Supporting the troops' shouldn’t simply be a slogan, nor should our support end when these soldiers come back to American soil,” said Stender. “We must be prepared to honor our commitments to an entire generation of brave men and women returning home from war – especially those who need assistance re-adjusting to civilian life or who were wounded in the line of duty. I will fight to provide for those who have risked their lives and personal safety with the benefits they’ve earned and the help they’ve been promised.”

Linda Stender supports legislation creating a “GI Bill for the 21st Century” to provide comprehensive educational benefits for soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. H.R. 2702 would make sure that veterans have the resources needed to succeed in our modern world. The legislation would provide up to four years of tuition, books and fees, plus a monthly stipend.

“When America’s greatest generation returned home from World War II, the first GI bill helped our veterans receive an education, take care of their families and chart their future,” said Stender. “Today, Congress should continue to provide our men and women in uniform with opportunities and assistance worthy of their sacrifice. When our soldiers return home from war, we should help them get a leg up, not turn our backs on them. ”

Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that nearly 200,000 veterans across the United States are homeless on any given night. Recent studies found that 6,500 of New Jersey's veterans are homeless, and over 12,000 more are on the brink of homelessness. Policy experts are warning of increased rates of homelessness among veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, based on the hundreds of veterans already seeking assistance from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Moreover, higher than expected rates of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries, in conjunction with large numbers of veterans paying over 50% of their income on rent, have triggered alarm among advocates for both veterans and the homeless.

“We must stand with our veterans in their time of need, just as they have stood up for us in the line of battle,” said Stender. “With young soldiers being denied healthcare, having trouble finding jobs or paying for school and even living on the streets – it is crystal clear that we need a change in Washington. A good start would be getting rid of the bureaucratic backlog that is stopping disabled veterans from getting the care and respect they have earned.”

Linda Stender believes that America’s men and women in uniform have done all that has been asked of them in Iraq, and that it is time to begin bringing them home from Bush’s misguided war. She supports the troops. And she is standing up for our veterans so they have the best possible care, assistance and opportunities when they return stateside.