By Elizabeth Wynne Johnson

As chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, California Democrat Bob Filner can easily rattle off a string of accomplishments.

"We’ve raised the health care budget by more than 60% for example, which is unprecedented. We passed ‘GI Bill for the 21st Century, which already a quarter millions vets have signed up for."

Filner's fellow committee member Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) also says Congress has generally done right by veterans when it comes to making money available…

"I think the key right now is to make sure that the implementation is going properly," says Lamborn. "Like with the education benefits – the implementation is sometimes where the problem is."

The GI Bill program has been under fire recently for being slow to pay college tuition and expenses. Filner acknowledges the problem.

"There are some problems with the GI Bill – we’re gonna fix them. We still have grave, grave mental health issues without the resources to meet them all."

That was Filner speaking last week, 24 hours before an Army psychiatrist opened fire on his fellow soldiers at Fort Hood. On this Veterans Day, there will be speeches all right. And perhaps a renewed emphasis on doing more - for active duty and veterans alike. Congressional hearings on the Fort Hood tragedy are expected.

Congress is recess for the rest of the week. This afternoon, the Pew Center on the States releases a new report. It identifies states in economic peril. The report, titled “Beyond California,” focuses on 10 states at risk of similar economic disaster. Scholars argue their financial woes could ripple – and cripple – the economic recovery process for the country as a whole.

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