2008 VA Senate Debate between Jim Gilmore and Mark Warner: on Homeland Security

Jim Gilmore: Close the pay gap for long-term military retention

Gilmore: As a veteran myself, I believe we must provide for our service members and their families while they serve and that our injured service members and veterans must not be left behind. As a U.S. senator, I will support closing the pay gap in order to further long-term retention and readiness. As governor of Virginia, I dramatically cut taxes for many military families in the commonwealth. I support allowing military retirees to remain eligible for CHAMPUS or TRICARE military health care programs. As a beneficiary of the GI bill, I understand the importance of offering a first-class education to those who put themselves in harm's way. As a U.S. senator, I will work to modernize the GI Bill and enact comprehensive reforms to support the men and women of our Armed Forces.

Mark Warner: World-class benefits for military veterans

Warner: We must keep our military strong by providing compensation and incentives that allow us to meet our recruiting goals and result in our soldiers wanting to stay in the military for longer. We must recommit to providing world-class health care and education benefits to our troops and military veterans. They stand for us on the battlefield, and we must stand with them when they come home. Improving the services veterans receive is not only good government, it is a debt of gratitude we owe them for their sacrifices and accomplishments.

Jim Gilmore: As a veteran myself, I believe we must provide for our service members and their families while they serve and that our injured service members and veterans must not be left behind.