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I believe that we have an obligation to defend those who have defended us. It is a national disgrace that our veterans return home from war to horrific conditions at Walter Reed and endless waits to get medical care. Our veterans deserve the highest quality care that this country can offer, and as President, I won't be satisfied until they have it. That is why I am proposing a $15 billion per year veterans plan, paid for entirely by closing a tax loophole on under-reporting of capital gains earnings. Here's what I'll do as President:

Create a "Heroes Health Card"

This card, which will be issued to every single veteran upon leaving the military, will provide our returning servicemen and servicewomen with the healthcare they need, when and where they need it. As President, I will call on every provider in America to accept this card and coordinate care with the veteran's local VA hospital.

Guarantee Full Mandatory Funding for Veterans' Healthcare

Currently, veterans have to beg Congress for their healthcare funding each year, rather than receiving it as an entitlement. I will end this travesty. And I will ensure that we fix President Bush's mess, at Walter Reed as well as those at other VA hospitals and clinics throughout the country. Our veterans and military personnel deserve high quality healthcare, and it is a travesty to provide them with anything less.

Offer Tax Cuts for Veterans

I will also ensure that veterans, who endure real financial hardships while protecting us, enjoy real financial benefits after they remove their uniforms. I will fight for Senator Jim Webb's proposal to give all vets a five percent cut in their federal income taxes for the rest of their lives. And because the transition to civilian life is often difficult, my plan also eliminates federal income taxes for veterans in their first year after separating from the military.

Take Care of Military Families

It is crucial that we address the hardships that many family members face when a loved one is critically injured. Often, spouses and parents are forced to leave their jobs to care for their wounded. As President, I will offer up to one year of disability insurance for the family member who leaves a job to care for an injured troop.

Fight for a GI Bill for the 21st Century

The G.I. Bill has been one of the most successful pieces of federal legislation in our nation's history, helping millions of veterans attend college over the decades. Unfortunately, it has not kept pace with inflation or the skyrocketing costs of higher education. As President, I will augment the G.I. Bill and the services' College Funds with up to $24,000 in loan forgiveness for our veterans.

The Bottom Line

We ask so much of our men and women in uniform -- far too much to treat them as shabbily as President Bush has these past years. It is time for a change. We must honor those who have put their lives on the line defending our nation. When I am President, we will.