Steve Pearce is a Vietnam veteran who flew combat missions. Veterans' issues are of the utmost importance to him. Steve was a pilot in the Air Force, serving in the Philippines and flying missions into Vietnam. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal. Returning to the US, he was assigned to the Strategic Air Command at Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas. He separated honorably with the rank of Captain.
While in Congress, Steve Pearce worked tirelessly on behalf of Veterans to ensure they would have the benefits they were promised. To get work done for veterans Steve has always used a two front strategy: (1) fighting for important legislation and funding, and (2) working directly with Veterans and the VA here in New Mexico to hold the VA system accountable. Steve is the only veteran in the race for Congress, has always supported our troops, and has the record to prove it.
Visit peopleforpearce.com to view Steve's campaign website and be sure to check out the Veterans page. On the website you can sign up to receive news, information and email alerts about veterans issues.
In Congress Steve Pearce...
- SUPPORTED and cosponsored the Disabled Veterans Termination Tax, which was signed into law and was the first fix of the concurrent receipts in over 100 years
- INTRODUCED and SUPPORTED the Caleb Martin-Travis Dodson Wounded Warrior Retention Act, which was endorsed by the American Legion and sought to give our wounded warrior the option to continue their military service
- INTRODUCED and SUPPORTED the HEALTHY Vets Act, which was designed to assist rural veterans with accessing local healthcare, thereby ending the cases where veterans in New Mexico are forced to travel up to 400 miles one-way for a doctor's visit with little help from the VA with travel costs
- SUPPORTED the Veterans Benefits Act (2003) and the Veterans Improvement Act (2004), which provided new and increased benefits to disabled veterans. These acts also extended new benefits to the widows and dependents of veterans and expanded the scope and quality of veteran healthcare
- SUPPORTED and cosponsored the Total Force Educational Assistance Enhancement and Integration Act-similar legislation became part of the Iraq War Supplemental and passed with Steve's support
- SUPPORTED the 2004 National Defense Authorization Act, which provided full retirement and disability pay to more disabled veterans than have ever been covered before
- SUPPORTED the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, which increased disability compensation rates to veterans with service-connected disabilities
- SUPPORTED the Fallen Patriots Tax Relief Act, which doubled the death benefits to survivors of members of the military and makes such benefits tax free
Setting The Record Straight
Political opponents have often made scurrilous and baseless attacks on Steve Pearce's record. One of the most common is the accusation that he did not support updated educational benefits for veterans serving in the War on Terror. This is completely false. Steve has always supported veterans. In the instance referenced the Democrat majority played politics and attached a massive tax increase and $87B in new government spending to the bill that included the updated educational benefits. In good conscience, Steve could not support that legislation, which taxed more and created new government programs.
You can download and print this report by clicking here - Pearce Veterans Record
