Military and Veterans

Senator Landrieu serves on the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs subcommittee. She was honored in February 2006 by the Reserve Officers Association and received the Minuteman of the Year Award, the Association's highest honor. The award recognizes recipients for their leadership on national security issues. Landrieu has also been awarded the Military Officers Association of America's (MOAA) Legislator of the Year Award, the National Military Family Association's Award for Service to Military Families, and the G.V. ''Sonny'' Montgomery Eagle Award for congressional service by the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States.

Senator Landrieu led efforts to eliminate the ''widow tax'' that reduced benefits by one-third for surviving spouses when they hit retirement. She has also fought for a tax credit to encourage employers to make up for the pay lost by members of the Reserve and National Guard who were called to active duty.

Senator Landrieu recognizes the threats faced by our troops who are bravely serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world. Senator Landrieu helped save the production of Armored Security Vehicles (ASV), which are made in Louisiana and offer better protection and more maneuverability than other army vehicles and have become increasingly popular with security forces. She has also pushed to increase funding for equipment for National Guard and Reserve troops fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Those who serve our country in the Armed Forces or who have served in the past deserve the best health care our nation can give them. Mary Landrieu has voted 25 times in favor of increasing funding for veterans' health care. She also supported extending health care coverage to military retirees and expanding the military's TRICARE program to cover National Guard and Army reserve forces and their families.

Senator Landrieu co-sponsored the 21st Century GI Bill to give veterans who served between three and 36 months on active duty full education benefits equal to the highest tuition rate of a public college or university in their state, as well as a monthly stipend for housing determined by geographical areas.