Bob Filner: “Madam Speaker and colleagues, I rise today in support of guaranteed funding for veterans' health care as found in H.R.…”

“Madam Speaker and colleagues, I rise today in support of guaranteed funding for veterans' health care as found in H.R. 2318. This bill replaces the current "discretionary" funding process with a reliable, predictable, and rational way to assure that the funding that is needed for our veterans will be there! Guaranteed funding takes into account inflation and increased enrollment for VA health care and provides the money to meet these needs. Currently, the Members of the Veterans' Affairs Committee and many of our other colleagues must join together with organizations like the Disabled American Veterans, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, the American Legion and others to fight for a budget to provide health care for veterans--a budget that is worthy of our veterans. And we must do this every year! And unfortunately, every year we fall far short of our goal. Veterans' health care needs are pitted against many other priorities of Congress and the administration, and we end up with less money than we need. The result, as many of you know, is disastrous. Right now, an entire group of veterans is being denied access to the VA health care system. And over 200,000 other veterans are waiting for a first appointment or an initial follow-up for health care, many waiting for more than 6 months. This year, the House passed a budget resolution that cut $25 billion from veterans' benefits. Twenty-five billion dollars!”