Political Quotes

“This amendment provides $1.3 billion in emergency funding for VA medical care to address the medical care needs of returning service members from Iraq and Afghanistan. I believe the $1.3 billion in emergency funding meets the criteria under section 502 of the budget resolution. This is consistent with the final figures approved in the budget adopted. This meets the figures included in the original budget. Unfortunately, the Office of Management and Budget sent us a budget that achieved these goals by increasing fees on veterans, and neither body has shown any enthusiasm for that. Under section 502, an expenditure may be designated an emergency if it meets five criteria: One, necessary, essential, or vital; two, sudden, quickly coming into being, and not building up over time; three, an urgent, pressing, and compelling need requiring immediate action; four, unforeseen, unpredictable, and unanticipated; and five, not permanent, temporary in nature. It is clear that this amendment meets the five criteria due to the compelling, vital, and essential needs of veterans who seek medical care services from the VA. As I trust all of our colleagues know, the VA cannot currently keep up with the demand of the current veteran population. Tens of thousands of veterans have been told to wait at least 6 months. Even more distressing is the fact that many of them have to wait up to 2 years to see a doctor. That is unacceptable.”