Kirk Supported cutting $1.8 Billion from Veterans Health Care
Kirk then voted against extending health coverage to the National Guard
Kirk voted against employment assistance for Iraq Veterans.
Kirk rejected a bill that would have given a mere $1,500 bonus to members of the military serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Kirk voted against establishing minimum rest periods for troops serving in combat zones, even though the bill allowed flexibility in unforeseen circumstances.
“Veterans’ groups opposed the appropriations bill. They were already angered by a series of Republican actions, including an original House budget proposal that called for reducing veterans’ spending by $28 billion over 10 years.”
[CQ Weekly, 7/26/03]
Kirk responded to an article that addressed how Illinois’ wounded soldiers were receiving among the lowest disability pay in the country:
"If you are wounded in the war on terror and come back to Illinois, you will be at a disadvantage, and that is wrong...We are making new veterans in the war in Iraq. We cannot shortchange them."
- Mark Kirk 12/4/04