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Obama Addresses Veterans about Health Care; Forecasters Watching Ana, Bill

Aired August 17, 2009 - 13:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Thanks, Tony. I wish you were here with me. We'd be having some fun.

We are pushing forward on the president, the veterans and the battles that follow them home.

President Obama speaks to the VFW on America's two foreign wars and the troops who are fighting them. You'll see it live right here in the NEWSROOM..

Out of the box, into the closet. Hard times in health care force doctors to make room for innovation.

And two and a half months into hurricane season, Ana, Bill and Claudette light up the radar.

Hello, everyone, I'm Kyra Phillips live in New York and you're live in the CNN NEWSROOM.

And they fought for you. Who fights for them? America's veterans front and center in a presidential road trip otherwise focused on health care. We're pushing forward on both fronts. A live address to the VFW this hour and a potential concession to conservative opponents of Democratic health plans.

We begin with the troops. For months, you know we've covered their causes and crises, from tainted equipment at V.A. hospitals, to a staggering backlog of benefit claims, to combat stress, even suicide. There are people stories, not number stories, but we can't ignore numbers like these.

Almost a million unprocessed benefit claims, forcing families to wait on average more than four months to get help. If claims are denied, it can take a year and a half, sometimes much longer, to go through the appeals. Factor in a passionate fight to overhaul the nation's health-care system, and this becomes the scene outside President Obama's address to the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Phoenix. The president is due to speak in just a few minutes.

And CNN's Ed Henry joins me live to set the stage.

Ed, how does our veterans' health care fit into this push for reform? We sure know they want it.

ED HENRY, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Very much so. I've been speaking to some veterans here in Phoenix over the last couple of days. They've been saying they've been watching this health reform debate play out, and they're watching it very closely.

A number of them, obviously, senior citizens, are on Medicare. Many others use Tricare through the military system. And they're frustrated that a lot of times the benefits claims, you mentioned at the V.A. department in particular, as you've documented on your program, there are a lot of problems.

The president in his speech today is going to address some of the bureaucratic problems, try to come up with some new initiatives to deal with it. I think many if these veterans have heard things like that before, and so they're going to say the proof will be in the pudding.

You can probably pick up some of the sound behind me. As you mentioned, that there is a pretty large rally going on here just outside the Phoenix Convention Center. It's mostly supporters of the president, shouting "Health Care Now" and things like that. There are a smaller group of protesters against the president, throwing around charges of socialism and the like, things we've seen at some of the town-hall meetings around the country.

So it's kind of fascinating that, while the president has just arrived in the last few moments, he should be starting the remarks earlier than expected in talking about health-care benefits for veterans, et cetera. But also, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This domestic issue, this big, big bustling battle over health-care reform is playing out right here on the streets of Phoenix, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, it's also extremely controversial because, I mean, this is a time when we haven't been able to get the head of the V.A. for a live interview, Ed. And there's been so many issues with regard to vets.

And they're coming home with the highest suicide rate. PTSD cases that are piling on by the day, which lead to that million in claims, the backlog there in the system. And so I think a lot of these vets -- supporters of vets wonder why aren't more people coming forward and addressing these issues, in particular the head of the V.A., along with the president of the United States.

HENRY: You're absolutely right, because I sat down with four veterans yesterday, and two were Obama supporters. Two had voted for John McCain. But they all agreed that more needed to be done for veterans.

And many of them expressed frustration, not just with the bureaucracy in Washington, but with their fellow Americans, saying that more people need to pay attention to the fact there are these two wars going on and the fact that, while we do honor the fallen and those who die, that many more come home injured, come home with traumatic brain injuries, and we sometimes kind of move onto other subjects and don't really find out whether or not they received the care they need.

Take a listen to Roland Rochester. He's a man who's a military veteran, served in Vietnam himself, but also now works at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. He greets soldiers before they go to Iraq and Afghanistan, and he's waiting for them when them when they come home with injuries.

Here was his message to Americans across the country about what's going on right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROLAND ROCHESTER, VIETNAM VETERAN: I know that they are tough. I know they're strong. I have a hard feeling for those that are over there. But I'm a Marine, and I will stand up for our chief of staff and our soldiers everywhere they go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HENRY: And you can see this came in the middle of an interview where we were talking about all these various subjects in Iraq and Afghanistan. Totally unexpected. Roland got very emotional. And it was while we were talking about whether or not Americans across the country understand the sacrifice that these brave men and women are going through.

So I think, obviously, there's an expectation that the president is going to talk about that. Robert Gibbs said to reporters in the last couple of days the president will thank U.S. troops. But obviously, beyond that thank you, as you say, the proof will be in the action, moving forward from this speech, as to whether veterans really are taken care of, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: And right now, Ed, stay with me. The president is actually about to be introduced here in Phoenix, Arizona.

And you know, you talk about the number of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. You mentioned that's going to be one thing the president is touching on. You know, the war in Iraq may be winding down, as we were mentioning, but 130,000 U.S. troops, you know, are still there. And at the moment, roughly 62,000 U.S. troops are in Afghanistan. But 6,000 more are expected to be there by the year's end. So I know that there's a -- yes, go ahead.

HENRY: Well, an important point you put on right there, another veteran I spoke to was a Democrat from Arkansas who had voted for President Obama. And what I found interesting is he said he was very worried about the escalation in Afghanistan. He understood that the president as commander in chief has tough decisions to make, but he said point blank to me on camera that he fears that Afghanistan is becoming another quagmire like -- like Vietnam. And again, this was someone who voted for President Obama.

And there were others in that group -- again, it was a mix of Obama and McCain voters -- who all expressed concerns about the mission in Afghanistan. It was interesting. A couple of McCain voters said, "Look, I don't agree with the president on everything, but I -- both of them..."

PHILLIPS: Hold that thought, Ed. HENRY: Yes.

PHILLIPS: Hold that thought. We're going to go right to the president. Let's go ahead and listen.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Thank you. Thank you. Please be seated. Thank you so much.

Commander Gardner, thank you for your introduction and for your lifetime of service. I was proud to welcome Glen (ph) and your executive director, Bob Wallace, to the Oval Office just before the Fourth of July. And I look forward to working with your next commander, Tommy Tradewell.

I want to also acknowledge Jean Gardner and Sharon Tradewell as well as Dixie Hild and Jan Title and all the spouses and family of the Ladies Auxiliary. America honors your service, as well.

Also, Governor Jan Brewer is here of Arizona. And Mayor Phil Gordon, our host here in Phoenix. I want to acknowledge President Dr. Joe Shirley Jr., president of the Navajo nation.

And this was not my original card, but this is just an extraordinary story, and you may have already heard from her. But I just want to publicly acknowledge and thank Ms. Helen Denton (ph), the secretary to Dwight Eisenhower, who typed up the orders for the Normandy invasion and is here today. And what an extraordinary story that is. So...

Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, I am honored and humbled to stand before you as commander-in-chief of the finest military the world has ever known. And we're joined by some of those who make it the finest force in world: from Luke Air Force Base, members of the 56th Fighter Wing.

Whether you wear the uniform today, or wore it decades ago, you remind us of a fundamental truth. It's not the powerful weapons that make our military the strongest in the world. It's not the sophisticated systems that make us the most advanced. The true strength of our military lies in the spirit and skill of our men and women in uniform.

And you know this. You know this because it's the story of your lives. When fascism seemed unstoppable and our harbor was bombed, you battled across rocky Pacific islands and stormed the beaches of Europe, marching across a continent -- my own grandfather and uncle among your ranks -- liberating millions and turning enemies into allies.

When communism cast its shadow across so much of the globe, you stood vigilant in a long Cold War -- from an airlift in Berlin to the mountains of Korea to the jungles of Vietnam. When that Cold War ended and old hatreds emerged anew, you turned back aggression from Kuwait to Kosovo.

And long after you took off the uniform, you've continued to serve: supporting our families and our troops when they go to war and welcoming them when they come home; working to give our veterans the care they deserve; and when America's heroes are laid to rest, giving every one that final fitting tribute of a grateful nation. We can never say it enough: for your service in war and peace, thank you VFW. Thank you.

Today, the story of your service is carried on by a new generation: dedicated, courageous men and women who I have the privilege to lead and meet every day.

They're the young sailors, the midshipmen at the Naval Academy who raised their right hand at graduation and committed themselves to a life of service. They're the soldiers I met in Baghdad who have done their duty, year after year, on a second, third or fourth tour.

They're the Marines of Camp Lejeune, preparing to deploy and now serving in Afghanistan to protect Americans here at home.

They're the airmen, like those here today, who provide the close air support that saves the lives of our troops on the ground.

They're the wounded warriors -- at Landstuhl and Walter Reed and Bethesda and across America -- for whom the battle is not to fight, but simply to speak, to stand, to walk once more.

They're the families that my wife Michelle has met at bases across the country. The spouses back home doing the parenting of two. The children who wonder when mom and dad may be coming home. The parents who watch their sons and daughters go off to war. The families who lay a loved one to rest --- and the pain that lasts a lifetime.

To all those who have served America -- our forces, your families, our veterans -- you have done your duty. You have fulfilled your responsibilities. And now a grateful nation must fulfill ours. And that is what I want to talk about today.

First, we have a solemn responsibility to always lead our men and women in uniform wisely. And that starts with a vision of American leadership that recognizes that military power alone cannot be the first or only answer to the threats facing our nation.

In recent years, our troops have succeeded in every mission America has given them, from toppling the Taliban to deposing a dictator in Iraq to battling brutal insurgencies. At the same time, forces trained for war have been called upon to perform a whole host of missions. Like mayors, they've run local governments and delivered water and electricity. Like aid workers, they've mentored farmers and built new schools. Like diplomats, they've negotiated agreements with tribal sheikhs and local leaders.

But let us never forget. We are a country of more than 300 million Americans. Less than one percent wears the uniform. And that 1 percent -- our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen -- have borne the overwhelming burden of our security. In fact, perhaps never in American history have so few protected so many.

So the responsibility for our security must not be theirs alone. That is why I have made it a priority to enlist all elements of our national power in defense of our national security -- our diplomacy and development, our economic might and our moral example. Because one of the best ways to lead our troops wisely is to prevent the conflicts that cost American blood and treasure tomorrow.

As president, my greatest responsibility is the security and safety of the American people. As I've said before, that is the first thing that I think about when I wake up in the morning. It's the last thing that I think about when I go to sleep at night. And I will not hesitate to use force to protect the American people or our vital interests.

But as we protect America, our men and women in uniform must always be treated as what they are: America's most precious resource. As commander-in-chief I have a solemn responsibility for their safety. And there 's nothing more sobering than signing a letter of condolence to the family of servicemen or women who have given their lives for our country.

That is why I have made this pledge to our armed forces: I will only send you into harm's way when it is absolutely necessary. And when I do, it will be based on good intelligence and guided by a sound strategy. I will give you a clear mission, defined goals and the equipment and support you need to get the job done. That's my commitment to you.

Which brings me to our second responsibility to our armed forces: giving them the resources and equipment and strategies to meet their missions. We need to keep our military the best trained, the best- led, the best-equipped fighting force in the world. And that's why -- even with our current economic challenges -- my budget increases defense spending.

We will ensure that we have the force structure to meet today's missions. And that's why we've increased the size of the Army and the Marines Corps two years ahead of schedule and have approved another temporary increase in the Army. And we've halted personnel reductions in the Navy and Air Force. This will give our troops more time home between deployments, which means less stress on families and more training for the next mission. And it will help us put an end, once and for all, to stop-loss for those who have done their duty.

We will equip our forces with the assets and technologies they need to fight and win. So my budget funds more of the Army helicopters, crews and pilots urgently needed in Afghanistan; the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance that gives our troops the advantage; the Special Operations forces that can deploy on a moment's notice. And for all those serving in Afghanistan and Iraq, including our National Guard and Reserve, more of the protective gear and armored vehicles that save lives.

Now, as we fight in two wars, we will plan responsibly, budget honestly, and speak candidly about the costs and consequences of our actions. And that's why I've made sure my budget includes the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In Iraq, after more than six years, we took an important step forward in June. We transferred control of all cities and towns to Iraq's security services. The transition to full Iraqi responsibility for their own security is now underway. This progress is a testament to all those who have served in Iraq, both uniformed and civilian. And our nation owes these Americans -- and all who have given their lives -- a profound debt of gratitude.

Now, as Iraqis take control of their destiny, they will be tested and targeted. Those who seek to sow sectarian division will attempt more senseless bombings, more killing of innocents. This we know.

But as we move forward, the Iraqi people must know that the United States will keep its commitments. And the American people must know that we will move forward with our strategy. We will begin removing our combat brigades from Iraq later this year. We will remove all our combat brigades by the end of next August. And we will remove all our troops from Iraq by the end of 2011. And for America, the Iraq war will end.

By moving forward in Iraq, we're able to refocus on the war against al Qaeda and its extremist allies in Afghanistan and Pakistan. That's why I announced a new, comprehensive strategy in March. A strategy that recognizes that al Qaeda and its allies had moved their base from the remote, tribal areas -- to the remote, tribal areas of Pakistan. This strategy acknowledges that military power alone will not win this war -- that we also need diplomacy and development and good governance. And our new strategy has a clear mission and defined goals: to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al Qaeda and its extremist allies.

In the months since, we have begun to put this comprehensive strategy into action. And in recent weeks, we've seen our troops do their part. They've gone into new areas, taking the fight to the Taliban in villages and towns where residents have been terrorized for years. They're adapting new tactics, knowing that it's not enough to kill extremists and terrorists; we also need to protect the Afghan people and improve their daily lives. And today, our troops are helping to secure polling places for this week's election so that Afghans can choose the future that they want.

These new efforts have not been without a price. The fighting has been fierce. More Americans have given their lives. And as always, the thoughts and prayers of every American are with those who make the ultimate sacrifice in our defense.

As I said when I announced this strategy, there will be more difficult days ahead. The insurgency in Afghanistan didn't just happen overnight. And we won't defeat it overnight. This will not be quick, nor easy.

But we must never forget. This is not a war of choice. This is a war of necessity. Those who attacked America on 9/11 are plotting to do so again. If left unchecked, the Taliban insurgency will mean an even larger safe haven, from which al Qaeda would plot to kill more Americans. So this is not only a war worth fighting. This is a -- this is fundamental to the defense of our people.

Going forward, we will constantly adapt to new tactics to stay ahead of the enemy and give our troops the tools and equipment they need to succeed. And at every step of the way, we will assess our efforts to defeat al Qaeda and its extremist allies, and to help the Afghan and Pakistani people build the future that they seek.

Now, even as we lead and equip our troops for the missions of today, we have a third responsibility to fulfill. We must prepare our forces for the missions of tomorrow.

Our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen adapt to new challenges everyday. But as we know, much of our defense establishment has yet to fully adapt to the post-Cold War world, with doctrine and weapons better suited to fight the Soviets on the plains of Europe than insurgents in the rugged terrain of Afghanistan. Twenty years after the Cold War ended, this is simply not acceptable. It is irresponsible. Our troops and our taxpayers deserve better.

And that's why our defense review is taking a top-to-bottom look at our priorities and posture, questioning conventional wisdom, rethinking old dogmas and challenging the status quo. We're asking hard questions about the forces we need and the weapons we buy. And when we're finished, we'll have a new blueprint for the 21st-century military that we need. And in fact, we're already on our way.

We're adopting new concepts -- because the full spectrum of challenges demands a full range of military capabilities -- both the conventional and the unconventional, the ability to defeat both an armored division and the lone suicide bomber; the Intercontinental Ballistic Missile and the improvised explosive device; 18th-century- style piracy and 21st-century cyber threats. No matter the mission, we must maintain America's military dominance.

So even as we modernize our conventional forces, we're investing in the capabilities that will reorient our force to the future: an Army that's more mobile and expeditionary and missile defenses that protect our troops in the field; a Navy that not only projects power across the oceans but operates nimbly in shallow, coastal waters; an Air Force that dominates the airspace with next-generation aircraft, both manned and unmanned; a Marine Corps that can move ashore more rapidly in more places. And across the force, we're investing in new skills and specialties. Because in the 21st century, military strength will be measured not only by the weapons our troops carry, but by the languages that they speak and the cultures that they understand.

But here's the simple truth. We cannot build the 21st-century military we need -- and maintain the fiscal responsibility that American demands -- unless we fundamentally reform the way our defense establishment does business. It's a simple fact. Every dollar wasted in our defense budget is a dollar we can't spend to care for our troops, or protect America, or prepare for the future.

You've heard the stories. The indefensible no-bid contracts that cost taxpayers billions and make contractors rich. The special interests and their exotic projects that are years behind schedule and billions over budget. The entrenched lobbyists pushing weapons that even our military says it doesn't want. The impulse in Washington to protect jobs back home building things we don't need has a cost that we can't afford.

This waste would be unacceptable at any time. But at a time when we're fighting two wars and facing a serious deficit, it's inexcusable. It's an affront to the American people and to our troops. And it's time for it to stop.

This is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. This is not a Democratic issue or a Republican issue. It's about giving our troops the support they need. And that's something on which all Americans can agree. So I'm glad that I have a partner in this effort a great veteran, a great Arizonan, and a great American who has shown the courage to stand and fight this waste: Senator John McCain. And I'm proud to have Secretary of Defense Robert Gates -- who has served under eight presidents of both parties -- leading this fight at the Pentagon.

So already, I've put an end to unnecessary no-bid contracts. I've signed bipartisan legislation to reform defense procurement so weapons systems don't spin out of control. And even as we increase spending on the equipment and weapons our troops do need, we've proposed cutting tens of billions of dollars in waste we don't need.

Think about it. Hundreds of millions of dollars for an alternate second engine for the Joint Strike Fighter -- when one reliable engine will do just fine. Nearly two billion dollars to buy more F-22 fighter jets when we can move ahead with a fleet of newer, more affordable aircraft. Tens of billions of dollars to put an anti- missile laser on a fleet of vulnerable 747s.

And billions of dollars for a new presidential helicopter. Maybe you've heard about this. Among its other capabilities, it would let me cook a meal while under nuclear attack. Let me tell you something. If the United States of America is under nuclear attack, the last thing on my mind will be whipping up a snack.

So it's pretty straightforward. Cut the waste. Save taxpayer dollars. Support the troops. That's what we should be doing. The special interests, contractors and entrenched lobbyists, they're invested in the status quo. And they're putting up a fight.

But make no mistake, so are we. If a project doesn't support our troops, it does not make America safer, we will not fund it. If a system doesn't perform, we will terminate it. And if Congress sends me a defense bill loaded with a bunch of pork, I will veto it. We will do right by our troops and taxpayers. And we will build the 21st century military that we need.

Finally, we will fulfill our responsibility to those who serve by keeping our promises to our people.

We will fulfill our responsibility to our forces and our families. That's why we're increasing military pay. That's why we're building better family housing and funding more child care and counseling to help families cope with the stresses of war. And we've changed the rules so military spouses can better compete for federal jobs and pursue their careers.

We will fulfill our responsibility to our wounded warriors. For those still in uniform, we're investing billions of dollars for more treatment centers, more case managers and better medical care so our troops can recover and return to where they want to be -- with their units.

But as the VFW well knows, for so many veterans the war rages on --- the flashbacks that won't go away, the loved ones who now seem like strangers, the heavy darkness of depression that has led to too many of our troops taking their own lives. Post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury are the defining injuries of today's wars. So, caring for those affected by them is a defining purpose of my budget -- billions of dollars for more treatment and mental health screenings to reach our troops on the frontier -- on the frontlines, and more mobile and rural clinics to reach veterans back home. We are not going to abandon these American heroes. We are going to do right by them.

We will fulfill our responsibility to our veterans as they return to civilian life. I was proud to co-sponsor the post-9/11 GI Bill as a senator. And thanks to VFW members across the country -- and leaders like Arizona's Harry Mitchell in Congress-- it is now the law of the land. And as president, I'm committed to seeing that it is successfully implemented. For so many of you, like my grandfather, the original GI Bill changed your life -- helping you to realize your dreams. And it also transformed America -- helping to build the largest middle class in history. We're saying the same thing to today's post-9/11 veterans -- you pick the school, we'll help pick up the bill.

And as...

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: And as these veterans start showing up on campuses, I'm proud that we're making this opportunity available to all those who have sacrificed, including reservists and National Guard members and spouses and children, including kids who've lost their mom or dad.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: In an era when so many people and institutions have acted irresponsibly, we chose to reward the responsibility and service of our forces and their families. Whether you've left the service in 2009 or 1949, we will fulfill our responsibility to deliver the benefits and care that you earned. That's why I've pledged to build nothing less than a 21st-century V.A. And I picked a lifelong soldier and wounded warrior from Vietnam to lead this fight, General Eric Shinseki.

(APPLAUSE) OBAMA: We're dramatically increasing funding for veterans' health care. This includes hundreds of millions of dollars to serve veterans in rural areas, as well as the unique needs of our growing number of women veterans. We're restoring access to V.A. health care for half a million veterans who lost their eligibility in recent years, our Priority 8 veterans.

Since there's been so much misinformation about there about health insurance reform, let me say this. One thing that reform won't change is veterans health care. No one is going to take away your benefits. That is the plain and simple truth.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: We're expanding access to your health care, not reducing it.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: We're also keeping our promise on concurrent receipt. My budget ensures that our severely disabled veterans will receive both their military retired pay and their V.A. disability benefits.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: And I look forward to signing legislation on advanced appropriations for the V.A. so the medical care you need is never held up by budget delays.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: I've also directed Secretary Shinseki to focus on a top priority, reducing homelessness among veterans.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: After serving their country, no veteran should be sleeping on the streets, no veteran.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: We should have zero tolerance for that. And we're keeping our promise to fulfill another top priority at the V.A., cutting the red tape and inefficiencies that cause backlogs and delays in the claims process.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: This spring, I directed the departments of defense and veterans affairs to create one unified lifetime electronic health record for the members of the armed forces, a single electronic record, with privacy guaranteed, that will stay the with them forever. Because after fighting for America, you should not have to fight over paperwork to receive the benefits that you've earned.

(APPLAUSE) OBAMA: Today, I can announce that we're taking another step. I've directed my chief performance officer, my chief technology officer and my chief information officer to join with Secretary Shinseki in a new reform effort. We're launching a new competition to capture the very best ideas of our V.A. employees who work with you every day.

We're going to challenge each of our 57 regional V.A. offices to come up with the best ways of doing business, of harnessing the best information technologies, of cutting red tape and breaking through the bureaucracy. And then we're going to fund the best ideas and put them into action, all with a simple mission: Cut those backlogs, slash those wait times, deliver your benefits sooner.

I know you've heard this for years, but the leadership and resources we're providing this time means that we're going to be able to do it. That is our mission, and we are going to make it happen.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: Now, taken together, these investments represent a historic increase in our commitment to American's veterans, a 15 percent increase over last year's funding levels and the largest increase in the V.A. budget in more than 30 years. And over the next five years, we'll invest another $25 billion to make sure that our veterans are getting what they need.

These are major investments, and these are difficult times. Fiscal discipline demands that we make hard decisions, sacrificing certain things we can't afford. But let me with clear. America's commitment to its veterans are not just lines on a budget. They are bonds that are sacred, a sacred trust we're honor-bound to uphold.

These are commitments that we make to the patriots who serve, from the day they enlist to the day that they are laid to rest, patriots like you. Patriots like a man named Jim Norine (ph). His story is his own, but in it we see the larger story of all who serve. He's a child of the Depression who grew up to join that "greatest generation."

A paratrooper in the 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne. Jumping in a daring daylight raid into Holland to liberate captive people, rushing to Bastogne at the Battle of the Bulge, where his commanding general, surrounded by the Germans and asked to surrender, declared famously, "Nuts." For his bravery Jim was awarded the Bronze Star, but like so many others, he rarely spoke of what he did or what he saw, reminding us that true love of country is not boisterous or loud, but rather the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.

Jim returned home and built a life. He went to school on the G.I. Bill. He got married. He raised a family in a small Oregon farming town. And every Veterans Day, year after year, he visited schoolchildren to speak about the meaning of service. And he did it all as a proud member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

(APPLAUSE)

OBAMA: Then this spring, Jim made a decision. He would return to Europe once more. Eighty-five years old, frail, gravely ill, he knew he might not make it back home. But like the paratrooper he always was, he was determined. So near Bastogne, he returned to the places he knew so well. At a Dutch town liberated by our G.I.s, schoolchildren lined the sidewalks and sang "The Star-Spangled Banner." And in the quiet clearing of an American cemetery, he walked among those perfect lines of white crosses of fellow soldiers who had fallen long ago, their names forever etched in stone.

Then, back where he had served 65 years before, Jim Norine passed away, at night, in his sleep, quietly, peacefully, the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime. The next day, I was privileged to join the commemoration at Normandy to mark the day when the beaches were stormed and a continent was freed. There were presidents and prime ministers and veterans from the far corners of the earth, but long after the bands stopped playing and the crowds stopped cheering, it was the story of a departed VFW member that echoed in our hearts.

Veterans of Foreign Wars, you have done your duty to your fallen comrades, to your communities, to your country. You have always fulfilled your responsibilities to America. And so long as I am president of the United States, America will always fulfill its responsibilities to you. God bless you, God bless all our veterans. And God bless the United States of America. Thank you very much.

(APPLAUSE)

PHILLIPS: The commander in chief speaking to the veterans of foreign wars, two foreign wars at one time, both last years, take a huge toll on the people who fight them, as we know. And that brings me to veterans advocate Steve Robinson, who actually listened to the president's speech as well. He joins me now live from our studios in Washington.

And Steve, I know you and I were looking for the same thing. We heard him start off talking a lot about the continuing operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, increasing the defense budget. But I think more than everything, we wanted to hear about the backlog in claims, the PTSD, the suicide among our troops, the mental illness that our troops are facing and not getting enough care.

And he did mention it. The question is, was it enough?

STEVE ROBINSON, VETERANS ADVOCATE: Yes. Very good speech. Kind of what we thought it would be. And I was a little worried that it was going to be heavy on what the job was in Iraq and Afghanistan and not enough about what the second half of the mission is, which is what do we do when we come home?

But he did talk about the things that were very important to me and other veteran advocates, especially a president acknowledging TBI, PTSD, mental health and the increased rate of suicides. It's incredible that it came out of his mouth, and it allows us to break down the stigma of people seeking care when the president announces those kinds of things and acknowledges them.

PHILLIPS: Let's go ahead and take a listen to it, Steve.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: For so many veterans, the war rages on. The flashbacks that won't go away, the loved ones who now seem like strangers, the heavy darkness of depression that has led to too many of our troops taking their own lives. Post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury are the defining injuries of today's wars. So, caring for those affected by them is a defining purpose of my budget. Billions of dollars more for treatment and mental-health screenings to reach our troops, on the frontier -- on the front lines and more mobile and rural clinics to reach veterans back home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: All right, he said it right there. Billions of dollars, Steve, for more treatment and mental health screening to reach our troops on the front lines and more mobile and rural clinics to reach veterans back home. Are we seeing it yet?

ROBINSON: These initiatives are under way. The policies that the president is talking about haven't really reached rural America yet, but they are working on them very hard. And it's just really great to hear a president acknowledge these things because, you know, I have fought for, since I retired from the military, to try to draw attention to these issues. And to hear the president talk about them should put the fire underneath the V.A. to get these programs and policies out to the veterans.

PHILLIPS: And also, I want to ask you before I let you go, Steve. General Eric Shinseki, the head of the V.A., is he the man to be running Veterans Affairs? And, of course, number two, another former military hero, Tammy Duckworth, she was injured in the war, lost her legs flying that helicopter. She knows all too well what these men and women are going through. And you would think automatically that mental health issues, dealing with depression, suicide, coming back a different person would be on the forefront of her agenda as well.

ROBINSON: I think they are the right people. But like with any administration, because I've seen previous administrations and this administration, you have to surround the secretary and Ms. Duckworth with people who are equally motivated. You have to remove people who put up barriers to veterans getting care. And if you're not there to serve the veteran, then you need to find another job. So, I think they're the right people. They've just got to continue to put people into the V.A. that are as singularly focused as the president and Secretary Shinseki.

PHILLIPS: Final thought, Steve. You are one of the biggest advocates I know working for our veterans. Is there anything that you didn't hear that you really wished you would have?

ROBINSON: No, I'm surprised. I did hear exactly all of the issues that confront veterans. The V.A. -- you know, the head of the snake for problems in the Department of Veterans Affairs is what we do for people while they're in the Department of Defense.

Proper diagnosis and screening and treatment and then a seamless transition to the V.A. would go a long way in reducing some of the problems that veterans have. Then we can just focus on access and programs that the V.A. provides to try to make them as whole as possible. But all in all, I heard everything I wanted to hear. Now I want to see those programs put into action.

PHILLIPS: Amen. And you heard the president say we will not abandon these American hears. We heard it straight from the lips. So, we will follow up, of course, continue to follow all the stories affecting our vets.

Steve Robinson, great to talk to you.

ROBINSON: Thank you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Suddenly the Atlantic hurricane season is heating up. We're watching three tropical systems now. We're going to check in with our Chad Myers, coming up next.

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PHILLIPS: The first tropical storm to make landfall on the U.S. mainland this year hits the Florida panhandle. Tropical storm Claudette came ashore near Fort Walton Beach about 12 hours ago. The storm dumped heavy rain and caused sporadic power outages and some local flooding, but no deaths or serious injuries. It's now actually been downgraded to a tropical depression.

Now, as Claudette weakens, Hurricane Bill is intensifying. Chad Myers has the latest now. It's the first hurricane of the Atlantic season, right?

CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Correct, and probably the first major hurricane as well, as it gets above category three strength. This will be well in excess of 110 miles per hour. In fact, the forecasts are way above that, like 125. And some of the computer models have it even up to a category four, not to a five.

But there is Bill. All of the computer models are taking it very close to Bermuda, and this is kind of in the Atlantic Ocean. No models yet are taking it to the U.S. That said, this is a very dangerous storm, category one, two, three. There's Bermuda, there's North Carolina, and then swinging to the north. It very well may get somewhere close to Newfoundland as well, as it moves to the north as a big storm.

The next storm that I think that's very underrated, this storm here. This is Ana. Ana going to go over Hispaniola, the Dominican Republic and maybe over toward the Florida Keys. As that happens, it's going to get into some very warm water. Right now, it's not forecast to do anything except be a 35-mile-per-hour storm. I just want to advise you and warn you -- I might be the only one saying this out there -- that this storm has a lot more potential than 35 miles per hour because of the intensity and the warmth of the water here in the Gulf of Mexico.

Let's pan around a little bit. This is all the cloud cover and rain shower activity from Ana, even rains almost up to Atlanta. I touched on this earlier. We're trying to get some pictures out of Kansas City. There's been a big line of weather moved through there, not associated with tropical weather at all, but there has been a lot of flooding across parts of Kansas City, especially up toward Leavenworth, and then some showers up into the Detroit metro area.

So, we will keep watching that storm right there. I want you to keep watching Bill because it's a major, major event. But it may be a fish storm, which means the only people out there seeing it will be the fish. Ana, although it's the "A" storm and Claudette already moved onshore, Ana formed first. Bill formed next, Claudette formed very close to Florida and has already moved inland -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. We'll keep tracking it with you, Chad. Thanks.

MYERS: You're welcome.

PHILLIPS: Walk a mile in their shoes? A doctor takes it one step further, actually, giving up his medical insurance to better understand the health care crisis for the uninsured. We're going to talk to him.

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PHILLIPS: Well, as CNN covers this make-or-break month for health care reform, our team wanted to highlight some people who are helping folks get the care that they need. And one of those individuals is Dr. Will Nicholson. We first introduced you to him last month, and at that time, he had just begun a personal experiment. He actually dropped his employer-provided health insurance, and is trying to buy coverage on his own.

Dr. Nicholson joins us now from Minneapolis with a progress report. OK, Will, so bring us up to date. For our viewers that didn't see you the first time, what have you experimented with, and how's it been an eye-opener thus far?

DR. WILL NICHOLSON, BUYING OWN HEALTH INSURANCE: Well, thanks, Kyra. The goal of my project has been to go on to the individual insurance market and purchase insurance, just as many of my patients have had to do, and try to go through some of the challenges that they go through and hopefully give some advice on how to get more value out of the system.

Now, since starting this project, I was interviewed by you on CNN, and that has actually added a whole different aspect to the project. People have been contacting me from all over the country, telling me about their challenges with the health care system. So, now I've not only been able to draw on my own experience, the experience of the patients that I work with every day, but also these people across the country.

It's by no means a scientific sampling of the population but it's given me a lot of insight. You know, 70 percent of medicine is talking to your patients. I'm getting pretty close to having some pretty good recommendations, I think, for people who are trying to buy private insurance.

PHILLIPS: Well, let me ask you a question. And I don't want to put you on the spot, so you tell me how you can answer this. Because we've actually gotten a number of tweets from patients that have said to us, tell the doctor my situation, and then he's going to really know what some of us are going through.

Listen to this one, Will, and tell me what you think. Ghudsatn (ph): "Unless this young doctor is ill, it's not a real test. As a brain and testicular cancer survivor who now has COPD," chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, "congestive heart failure, diabetes and bladder cancer, he can follow my trips for a month and find out which hoops you have to jump through."

My heart sunk, first of all, when I heard everything he's dealing with. But, wow, that really puts it in perspective, Will.

NICHOLSON: Yes, my heart goes out to him as well. You know, I have very similar patients in my practice, and I don't pretend to have a hard health care case to insure. I'm young, I'm healthy.

But from a scientific point of view, I'm a pretty easy person to navigate all the different options. Lots of people like him don't have the same number of options. I would like to find a way to sort of add some complexity to the model, but right now, I think just as an individual, you know, I have a day job. This is the biggest task I can undertake, and I really think that the information that I've been getting from this has been very valuable.

PHILLIPS: Well, for example, let's say this man came to see you, OK, and he's dealing with all of this. Knowing what you know now, as you've been checking out all these various plans, what would you tell him?

NICHOLSON: Well, you know, I'm not an expert at purchasing insurance. Someone like that is going to have a lot of trouble no matter how they're insured. A lot of those people that I run into, the people that I've heard from across the country, they can't find insurance. There is no insurance.

So they instead face bankruptcy, Chapter 11, or they look for some type of charity care. An example in my community is, we had a physician who recently contracted cancer, and he actually had to hold a fundraiser to pay his own medical bills. I mean, this does touch everybody, physicians, patients alike.

PHILLIPS: All right, so final thought, then, because a lot happened over the weekend with regard to the public option. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius came forward and said well, maybe it's not the essential element, the public option part of the health care bill. Then Howard Dean came back and said, no, there's no way we can have a meaningful overhaul of the health care system without public option for coverage. As you've been dealing with your experiment and the various patients, what do you think?

NICHOLSON: Well, I've been trying to follow the health care debate, but, you know, obviously, I'm not a health care expert like Howard Dean is. I'd have to defer to Howard Dean on that one, or Kathleen Sebelius.

But you know, the two big options that seem to be out there right now that are being discussed are the public option and that co-op option. And, you know, from a purchasing standpoint, from the experience that I've had in this project, there's some appeal to the idea that you can have a co-op of people who gang up and try to lower the cost of health care. You know, maybe that's a good compromise.

However, as a physician, I have a strong moral feeling that people shouldn't have to gang up on anyone to be able to afford health care as an individual. As far as the public option goes, I can tell you right now, the options that we do have aren't enough for a lot of people. They're inadequate.

So, we need better options. If a public option is one of those, I'd be willing to entertain the idea.

PHILLIPS: Dr. Will Nicholson, we'll keep following your experiment along with the debate, obviously. Good to see you. Appreciate your time.

NICHOLSON: Good to see you again.

PHILLIPS: You bet.

More from the CNN NEWSROOM at the top of the hour coming up.

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