Bob Filner: “our Nation's veterans are getting a raw deal. Last week the Republican budget conference approved a veterans budget $573…”

“our Nation's veterans are getting a raw deal. Last week the Republican budget conference approved a veterans budget $573 million below that recommended by President Clinton. Now the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education of the Committee on Appropriations has recommended that the funding level recommended by President Clinton for veterans' employment services provided for disabled veterans outreach program specialists and local veterans employment representatives be cut by almost $12 million. As a result, 28,000 fewer veterans; that is, 28,000 fewer veterans, will be placed in jobs than proposed in the President's budget. Additionally, the Republicans have recommended that the transition assistance program be terminated October 1. This successful program has trained hundreds of thousands of men and women leaving our Armed Forces to find, and to find quickly, good permanent civilian jobs. Mr. Speaker, the Republicans are anxious to spend billions of dollars on a dubious son of star wars program but are unwilling to provide the $2 million necessary to help veterans earn a living in their civilian communities. Let us hope the Committee on Appropriations restores this money. Veterans deserve more than hollow promises.”