Hillary Clinton Campaign Press Release - Hillary Clinton Outlines Solutions to Strengthen America's Military

Clinton Joined By Retired Generals Who Say Hillary Will Be Best Commander-in-Chief

During a town hall in Aliquippa, PA today, Hillary Clinton outlined solutions to strengthen our military, which has been placed under tremendous strain due to the Iraq War. Her proposals would reduce stress on our armed forces by providing troops with at least one month at home for every month they spend in the field. She would also end the stop-loss policy and ensure that the Department of Defense abides by its contracts with all our troops.

"The War in Iraq has been a harsh and daily toll on our men and women in uniform, many on their second, third, and fourth tour of duty. Among combat troops sent to Iraq for the third or fourth time, more than one in four show signs of anxiety, depression or acute stress, according to an official Army survey of soldiers' mental health," said Clinton. "And we cannot forget the toll on military families. So it is vital for our national security – and for the health and safety of our men and women in uniform – that we end the war in Iraq and begin to rebuild our military.

"That's why I am calling on President Bush to stop playing games by negotiating a long-term security pact with Iraq that will saddle the next president with his failed policies – without the review of the U.S. Congress. And I am calling on the president to answer the question General Petraeus did not: What is our endgame in Iraq, given the failure of the surge to achieve its objective?"

She discussed her proposals before a panel discussion with several retired military leaders, including Rear Admiral David Stone, Brigadier General Michael Dunn and Brigadier General John M. Watkins, Jr. They are among 35 Admirals and Generals who have endorsed Hillary Clinton to be our nation's next Commander-in-Chief. In addition, she was also joined by Monroeville Mayor Gregory Erosenko, a Vietnam-era Army veteran, and Thomas Giza, a former Army Specialist and Iraq veteran, who is also from Monroeville. Mayor Erosenko also announced his endorsement of Hillary Clinton today.

Today's town hall is part of the campaign's ongoing effort to reach out to veterans and their families. In fact, several volunteers are currently conducting a grassroots Veterans for Hillary tour, visiting 37 towns and cities all across Pennsylvania. Throughout their stops, the Veterans for Hillary are visiting veterans who are sick or injured, meeting with local veterans at Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion halls, and signing up volunteers.

At the event, Hillary also reinforced her commitment to end the war in Iraq and bring the troops home.

"You can count on me to end the war safely and responsibly. In fact, I led efforts in Congress to force the Bush Administration to plan for withdrawal from Iraq, so that we wouldn't repeat the same mistakes getting out of Iraq that we committed getting in," said Clinton. "Senator McCain says he will keep American troops in Iraq for 100 years – and you can count on that. Senator Obama says he will get American troops out in 16 months, but his advisor says you can't count on that. And one candidate is ready to be commander in chief – to end the war and rebuild our military while honoring our soldiers and veterans. And you're looking at her."

After more than five years, the Iraq war has placed unprecedented strains on the American military. The war has claimed the lives of more than 4,000 brave young men and women. Tens of thousands more have been wounded, many with invisible injuries like Traumatic Brain Injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The war has also eroded the military's strength, straining capacity, and weakening its ability to be prepared for new and unexpected challenges as well as address the growing danger on the forgotten front line in Afghanistan.

The Bush-Cheney-McCain strategy is to continue this failed policy. Hillary will end this war, bring our troops home, and reduce the stress on the men and women of our armed forces and their families. Below is her plan to strengthen the military, bring the troops home, and ensure that veterans receive the care and services they deserve.

STRENGTHENING OUR MILITARY

Hillary believes we must ensure that we treat the forces we send into battle with honor and respect. Hillary will ensure that our troops receive sufficient time at home between deployments to rest, reconnect with their families, and receive appropriate training for their next mission. As President, Hillary will take the following steps.

Reduce Strains on Our Troops. The war is placing tremendous strain on our armed forces, courting strategic risks posed by a force that is stretched to the breaking point. As President, Hillary will also adopt the proposals of Rep. John Murtha that, for every month they spend in the field, soldiers will be guaranteed one month here at home. Our Marines will have a similar standard appropriate for their service. The Army's policy goals and practice until the Iraq war were to have at least twice as much time at home for active duty soldiers as in the field and at least four times as much time at home as in the field for National Guard and Reserve. As President, Hillary will reestablish these as long-term goals for our armed forces.

End Stop Loss. More than 70,000 enlisted soldiers have been affected by this policy that forces soldiers to remain in the military beyond their contractual time, sometimes by as much as two years. On top of multiple tours of duty and little time at home between deployments, this policy increases the chances for physical and psychological problems, and deters people from joining the military. As President, Hillary will stop this policy and ensure that the Department of Defense abides by its contracts with all soldiers.

Build a Military for the Future. In the wake of Iraq, we need to restore and reshape the military with the future in mind. In addition to fighting conventional wars, the force of the future needs to be able to deal with a wide range of possible scenarios, including responding to conflict in weak and failing states and responding to humanitarian crises. Hillary will direct the Secretary of Defense to give first priority to build the force we need for the 21st century in areas where the need is greatest, including civil affairs, psychological operations, engineers, military police, and linguists.

START BRINGING OUR TROOPS HOME

To strengthen national security and begin to relieve the strain on our armed forces, we need to end the war in Iraq, begin bringing our troops home safely and responsibly, and stabilize Iraq.

As President, Hillary will convene her senior military leadership and will direct them to draw up a clear, comprehensive plan for bringing our troops home, beginning in 60 days. She will pursue a new diplomatic initiative in the region, including convening a regional stabilization meeting early in her Presidency to develop and implement a strategy to stabilize Iraq. Hillary will lead an international effort under the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to address the major refugee crisis created by this war. Hillary's plan will also ensure that the United States maintains a small and effective counterterrorism force in Iraq and the region to ensure al Qaeda never gains a capability to attack the United States or its allies from Iraq

A CHAMPION FOR VETERANS

Hillary's agenda for the military builds on her record of fighting for veterans. When Hillary is President, she will make sure that every member of our armed forces will receive a fair shot at the American Dream when their service is over. She will ensure that every veteran in America will have health care. She will work so that every veteran receives the benefits they have earned and the assistance they need - right from the start. And she will make sure no soldier ever loses a bonus because he or she has been injured in service. As President, Hillary will:

Restore and Expand TBI Program. Hillary Clinton joined Senator Barbara Mikulski in writing to President Bush, calling on him to reverse his plan to eliminate the Traumatic Brain Injury Program, which has a been a crucial component of the federal government's system of care for the million of Americans dealing with TBI, including many veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The program that was eliminated by President Bush's budget provides grants to states to help them develop systems of care for those impacted by such injuries; these grants are essential components of our national system of care for all Americans impacted by TBI. If President Bush does not restore this program, as President, Hillary will. Hillary will also improve the assessment, detection and treatment of TBI, as well as expand support systems for veterans and their families.

Fully Implement Walter Reed Recommendations. When she is President, Hillary will implement the recommendations of the Commission on the Care for Wounded Warriors, led by former Senator Bob Dole and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala. She will implement comprehensive recovery plans for each wounded warrior that provides the right care and support at the right time in the right place. She will streamline the transition from DoD to VA care. She will personally instruct her Secretary of Defense to recruit and retain first-rate professionals to staff our military hospitals.

Enact a GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century. Hillary will enact a GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century that will resurrect the spirit of the original 1944 GI Bill and offer service members, veterans and their families with expanded education, housing and entrepreneurial benefits. Her plan will guarantee equal access for all components of the Armed Forces -- Active, Guard and Reserve -- that have deployed overseas in support of a combat operation since September 11 or served two years of active duty since September 11. She will fund undergraduate education for service members, as well as education for specialized trade or technical training, and certification and licensing programs. She will make GI educational benefits transferable within families. She will expand the VA Home Loan Guaranty program to allow veterans to use low-interest, no-fee loans to purchase, build or improve a home valued up to $625,000. She will establish a Veterans Microloan Program to provide veterans with no-collateral, low-interest microloans of up to $100,000 for entrepreneurial ventures.

Provide Affordable and Quality Health Care for All Veterans. As President, Hillary will ensure that all of the 1.8 million uninsured veterans in this country have access to quality, affordable health care. She will restore the Clinton-era policy that opened the VA's excellent and cost-effective health care system to all veterans who seek to enroll. She will make a long-term commitment to the VA system to ensure it is adequately funded and has the capacity to avoid backlogs and to handle greater enrollments. And she will provide coverage through the American Health Choices Plan to all veterans who choose not to use the VA system.

Ensure All Veterans Receive the Benefits They Have Earned and the Assistance They Need -- Right from the Start. As President, Hillary will commit to getting a fair, accurate, and timely decision for every veteran filing a disability claim. She will increase the number of qualified VA evaluators to reduce the backlog of claims. She will provide fast-track training for new claims specialists and expand the Benefits Delivery at Discharge Program to smooth the transition from service to discharge for all those who serve our country.