Bill Nelson: “Just to add to his comments what he has described in North Dakota, imagine because of our size and particularly during…”

“Just to add to his comments what he has described in North Dakota, imagine because of our size and particularly during the winter months when so many veterans come to the State of Florida how the problems are compounded. When a veteran has to wait 5 months for an appointment just to see a doctor to get a prescription, that is not health care for our Nation's veterans. I have had occasion to talk to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs quite frequently recently on problems we have in some of our hospitals in Florida. Listen to what he said in the House Veterans Affairs' Committee on February 4 of this year. Secretary Principi said: I asked OMB for $1.2 billion more than I received. Even the Secretary of the VA is calling for money. Then is it any wonder our Senate Veterans' Committee in a bipartisan analysis of the VA budget concludes that we should have at least $1.8 billion more? That is the figure I have offered in the amendment I will be offering.”