Kerry & military benefits: a long record

Kerry is currently soliciting stories about hardships faced by military families that stem from inadequate benefits. He'll then read those stories into the congressional record to support a bill to boost benefits. Polipundit's response:

John Kerry is now professing an interest in helping the members of the military and their families. As the wife of a Marine Corps veteran, I am all for that. For the past several decades, however, Kerry has not exactly been known for his support of military spending.

See, if I were writing at Polipundit, I probably would've searched Thomas for support of my contention that Kerry is only recently interested in benefits for veterans and military men and women. And if I had, I would have found that my statement is completely unsupported. If there's been one consistent supporter of benefits for servicemen and women, it's been Kerry.

I would think there are enough reasons to criticize Kerry without having to make stuff up.

At any rate, some examples of bills he sponsored or cosponsored:

S.205: A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to equalize the treatment of members of the Armed Forces of the United States and former employees of the Federal Government for purposes of eligibility for payment of unemployment compensation for Federal service. (102nd Congress)

S.334: A bill to provide child care services to families of members of the Armed Forces of the United States who are serving on active duty, to provide eligibility for certain health benefits for members who are released from active duty in connection with the Persian Gulf conflict, and for other purposes. (102nd Congress)

S.347: A bill to amend chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, to allow members of the Armed Forces to sue the United States for damages for certain injuries caused by improper medical care provided during peacetime. (100th Congress)

S.2120: To amend section 3104 of title 38, United States Code, to permit certain service-connected disabled veterans who are retired members of the Armed Forces to receive compensation concurrently with retired pay, without deduction from either.(100th Congress)

S.1334: A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to establish a demonstration project to evaluate the feasibility of using the Federal Employees Health Benefits program to ensure the availability of adequate health care for Medicare-eligible beneficiaries under the military health care system. (105th Congress)

S.2358: An Act to provide for the establishment of a presumption of service-connection for illnesses associated with service in the Persian Gulf War, to extend and enhance certain health care authorities relating to such service, and for other purposes. (105th Congress)

Yeah, that Kerry. What a bandwagon jumper.