Bobby Jindal’s Real Record on America’s Veterans and Military

LOUISIANA IS HOME TO MORE than 337,000 veterans, 55,000 of whom live in the First Congressional District, represented by Congressman Bobby Jindal. In one of his most recent television ads, Bobby Jindal defends himself against the accusations that he has voted against our veterans, implying that such a claim is absurd. Yet, at the same time, Jindal has refused to argue against any of the specifics. Here are the facts, provided by a third-party watchdog:

Jindal Voted Against Giving the National Guard Access to TRICARE. In May 2005, Jindal voted against a motion to recommit the Fiscal 2006 Defense Authorization to the House Armed Services Committee with instructions to include language that would extend access to the military’s TRICARE health insurance program to all reservists and National Guard members. According to Congressional Quarterly, “The provision would pull $180 million from the Defense Department’s budget for base closings in order to cover the cost of allowing any reservists to sign up for TRICARE health care coverage.” The motion was rejected 211-218. [HR 1815, vote 221, 5/25/05; Congressional Quarterly, 5/23/05]

Jindal Praised the National Guard for their Katrina Response. “The National Guard and active-duty military response saved lives and provided much-needed assistance and medical care to thousands of people during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita,” Jindal said. [Jindal press release, 5/11/06]

41 Percent of the Louisiana National Guard Is in Iraq. 923 Louisiana U.S. Army Reservists and 5,280 Louisiana National Guard members have been deployed in Iraq (41 percent of Louisiana National Guard members). [Center for American Progress, “The Reserves in Your Hometown,” http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/kfiles/b237662.html]

Jindal Voted For Budget That Cut Veterans Health Care By $13.5 Billion. In 2005, Jindal voted for final passage of the $2.6 trillion budget conference report for 2006. The report cut Medicaid spending by $10 billion, spent every penny of the Social Security surplus, increased the national deficit by $167.5 billion over 5 years and paved the way for oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Furthermore, the conference report cut funding for veterans’ health care by $13.5 billion over five years. Yet the budget still found room for $106 billion in tax cuts for those who need it the least. [HR 95, Vote 149, 4/28/05; House Budget Committee Democratic Caucus, “Summary and Analysis of FY 2006 Budget Resolution Conference Report,” 4/28/05]
Jindal Opposed $100 Million Increase for Military Personnel. In 2005, Jindal voted against a proposal to the budget to increase funding for military health care by $100 million and transitional job training for military personnel by $50 million. The proposed increase failed, 200-229. [HR 1268, Vote 76, 3/16/05]

Jindal Opposed Ending the Military Families Tax. In May 2006, Jindal voted against motion to recommit the FY07 Department of Defense Authorization to the Armed Services Committee with instructions to include language that would eliminate the requirement that widows and orphans of deceased or fully disabled military personnel who receive pensions under the Defense Department’s Survivor Benefits Program have those benefits reduced by the amount received from the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Dependent and Indemnity Compensation program. The Military Families Tax penalizes more than 50,000 survivors in military families, most of whom are widows. These widows lose their military survivor benefits under the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) if they receive VA Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits because their spouse has died of a service-connected injury. Specifically, the spouse’s SBP benefit is reduced dollar for dollar by the amount of the DIC benefit – a $993 deduction per month. This harms the 53,000 survivors who continue to pay this unfair tax. The motion was rejected 202-220. [HR 5122, vote 144, 5/11/06; Leadership document, 5/11/06]
Jindal Voted Against Better Employment And Debt Assistance For Troops
Jindal Voted Against Additional Job Assistance to Veterans Returning from Overseas. In 2005, Jindal opposed a motion to the Job Training Improvement Act to provide extra assistance to veterans who are returning from conflicts overseas. Many veterans returning from the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq may need skills and training to obtain or retain their jobs while Reservists who have spent a year or more overseas have put their careers on hold to serve our country. Four out of 10 members of the Guard and Reserve forces lose income when they leave their civilian jobs for active duty. Many left for the war thinking they would be deployed for 6 months and have ended up staying for a year or even longer and may be shipped out again. Additionally, many Guard and Reservists are self-employed or run small businesses and face the daunting task of reestablishing their businesses after their release from active duties. The 2 years after they return from service are the most difficult. The motion failed, 197-228. [HR 27, Vote 47, 3/2/05; Statements by Rep. Kildee, 109th Congressional Record, pg. H915, 3/2/05; Statement by Rep. Schakowsky, 109th Congressional Record, pg. H2074, 4/14/05]

Jindal Voted Against Debt Assistance for Returning Guard & Reservists. In 2005, Jindal voted against a motion to the 2005 bankruptcy reform bill to exempt members of the National Guard and Reserve from the means test in the bill if their debt was a result of active duty or was incurred within two years of returning home from their service. The overall bill imposed a new means test on Americans who filed for bankruptcy protection. Those with incomes above the median for their state, and who could pay at least $6,000 over five years, would have to develop a plan to repay creditors. Previously, debtors had the option of asking a bankruptcy judge to erase their debts in return for forfeiting some of their assets. Four out of 10 members of the Guard and Reserve forces lose income when they leave their civilian jobs for active duty. Many left for the war thinking they would be deployed for 6 months and have ended up staying for a year or even longer and may be shipped out again. Additionally, many Guard and Reservists are self-employed or run small businesses and face the daunting task of reestablishing their businesses after their release from active duties. The 2 years after they return from service are the most difficult. The motion to protect Guard and Reserve volunteers failed, 200-229. [S 256, Vote 107, 4/14/05; Los Angeles Times, 4/15/05; Statement by Rep. Schakowsky, 109th Congressional Record, pg. H2074, 4/14/05]