Gwen Graham: “on behalf of a large number of our colleagues--Senators Kerry, Mikulski, Murray, Dorgan, Dayton, Daschle, Johnson…”

“on behalf of a large number of our colleagues--Senators Kerry, Mikulski, Murray, Dorgan, Dayton, Daschle, Johnson, Landrieu, Lautenberg, Bingaman, Clinton, Biden, Edwards, Rockefeller, Akaka, and my colleague Senator Nelson of Florida--I offer an amendment today to address the cost of providing health care to troops serving in the war in Iraq. This amendment would provide to the Veterans' Administration the additional funds it will require to meet the needs of returning service men and women. There is a history behind this amendment. Following the 1991 gulf war, returning servicemembers began to report unexplained illnesses and ailments that many linked to their service. Under the law that existed and controlled at that time, only those who had been granted a claim for a service-connected disability or demonstrated financial need could turn to the VA for health care services. The effect was to leave many of the returning veterans without medical coverage. Reservists were particularly vulnerable as they lost their military health care benefits shortly after returning. In 1998, Congress acted to ensure that no combat veteran endures such a delay again.”