By Kathy Castor

Tampa Tribune

With Veterans Day approaching, it's a good time to review important new initiatives under way here in the Tampa Bay area and in the nation's capital to honor our veterans and support our troops.

Our returning soldiers and veterans deserve the best medical care available. A new partnership between Tampa James A. Haley VA Medical Center and the University of South Florida Colleges of Medicine, Nursing and Public Health was authorized in Congress.

The partnership will improve medical care for our most critically injured soldiers who suffer brain and spinal cord injuries. Haley and USF will collaborate and develop a plan for the highest quality medical care for doctors and medical centers across the country to use.

More doctors and better medical care for veterans are planned for VA hospitals across America after Haley Medical Director Dr. Steven G. Scott highlighted the shortage of physician residents - doctors in training.

An increase in the number of physician residents is now approved for Veterans Affairs hospitals across the country, including Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa and Bay Pines VA Healthcare System in St. Petersburg - an important improvement for the quality of care for returning soldiers and veterans.

We honor our veterans by providing the largest investment in veterans' health care in the VA's 77-year history. Our veterans need sweeping upgrades to medical care, mental health care and the disability claims process. I urge President Bush not to veto our landmark veterans' care bill which will arrive on his desk shortly.

In addition to health care, we will help our veterans transition back to the community once they return from combat. The Small Business Lending Improvements Act of 2007 provides access capital so our veterans have an opportunity to start and support small businesses.

The Congress also granted troops, in their time of sacrifice, a pay raise in 2008 of 3.5 percent - 0.5 percent more than the President's budget request, and blocked fee increases in TRICARE and the TRICARE pharmacy program for service members and retirees.

As we celebrate Veterans Day, let us honor the brave Americans who have served our great nation. We want American servicemen and women, their families and our veterans to know that a grateful nation and proud Tampa Bay community deeply respects their service and sacrifice.

To the brave American men and women in uniform who have paid the ultimate sacrifice and to those who are fighting for us today: because you have honored our country, we honor you.

Kathy Castor is the U.S. representative from District 11.