Chris Dodd: “the distinction between this amendment and what we just voted on is, of course, paying for this. This amendment would…”

“the distinction between this amendment and what we just voted on is, of course, paying for this. This amendment would provide at least around $18 billion, $19 billion in needed funds to serve returning veterans from theater of conflict. We know last year that over 100,000 Iraqi veterans returned home. Yet the administration's fiscal year 2006 budget for the VA was only prepared to handle 23,000 veterans. There are shortfalls in every State across the country. There are shortfalls in private facilities as well as public ones. This amendment is for us finally to say let's do something for these people. Last year, we were promised it would be accommodated in the appropriations process. It had to be done as almost an afterthought. I don't like offering this amendment on this bill. I understand the problems associated with it. But if we don't finally do something, these veterans will lose the support they deserve. That is why the American Legion is so strongly supporting this amendment. I urge my colleagues to join me in seeing to it we have the resources to pay for this. If we don't pay for it, this amendment will not make it past the Ohio Clock. It will be dropped, and, once again, veterans will suffer. I urge adoption of the amendment.”