Administration opposes $1.3 billion in VA-HUD FY04 budget for veterans health care

[Guest guest]

So much for the administration supporting veterans...

 

 

From Vietnam Veterans of America organization:

 

Vietnam Veterans of America - November 14, 2003Legislative AlertA "Statement of Administration Policy" released on November 12 by the White House "strongly opposes the omission of three key Administration proposals that would save $927 million and refocus medical care of VA's core population of veterans with special needs, and service-disabled and low-income veterans - the $250 annual enrollment fee, the proposed increase in pharmaceutical co-pays (from $7 to $15), and allowing VA to conduct competitive sourcing studies. "The administration also strongly objects to the $1.3 billion in contingent emergency funding provided by the bill for annual veteran's [sic] medical care funding, since the enactment of the above Administration proposals would make this level of funding unnecessary.. ."After making the case in the White Paper we released in July that the VA's medical operations are grossly underfunded, we are disappointed and perplexed at the continued opposition to providing vitally needed funds for veterans health care. Now, as the FY 04 budget reaches endgame, we need to make one final effort to achieve an increase in funding for veterans health care. E-mail your Senators and Members of Congress. Let them know that if they truly support veterans and our troops overseas, they will resist the attempt to eliminate the $1.3 billion add-on to fund the VA's medical operations. Thank your Senators for adding the $1.3 billion to the VA-HUD bill, the final vote on which is slated for Monday, November 17. Let your Members of Congress, who did not add the $1.3 billion in their version of the VA-HUD appropriations bill, know that you expect them to agree with their colleagues in the Senate when the bills come to conference. This will happen immediately after the Senate vote.Please follow-up your e-mail today with a phone call on Monday to your Senator and Members of the House of Representatives.We also ask that you e-mail or call the White House to ask whey the President is opposed to these vitally needed funds for veterans.White HouseComments: (202) 456-1111Switchboard: (202) 456-1414E-Mail President George W. Bush: president