This Memorial Day weekend, we reflect upon what it really means to honor the memory of the men and women who fought for our country. We'll visit gravesites, observe moments of silence, hold parades and barbeques and celebrate the freedoms our soldiers provided -- all important gestures.
But as a country, we can do better than that.
In Congress, while the House's proposed defense budget calls for significant increases, it also cuts 11 billion dollars from veterans spending -- including healthcare and disability pay. Be clear: we can't equate spending on veterans with spending on defense. Our strength is not just in the size of our defense budget, but in the size of our hearts, in the size of our gratitude for their sacrifice. And that's not just measured in words or gestures.
The President has overseen dramatic troop reductions in Iraq and Afghanistan -- and the first step towards caring for our soldiers is getting them home. He has also increased funding for veteran healthcare, pushed tax credits for businesses who hire vets, and approved a stronger GI bill to educate them.
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