Gwen Graham: “The amendment my colleagues and I are debating today would provide the VA with the $1.8 million which is necessary to…”

“The amendment my colleagues and I are debating today would provide the VA with the $1.8 million which is necessary to keep the current services in place and would also provide the funds to meet the cost of these wounded returning American service men and women like John so we will be able to honor the commitment we have made to him. It will also provide the funds to continue to meet our long-term care and mental health needs. These numbers were not derived out of smoke. These numbers were derived by an independent budget committee. This is a committee made up of representatives of all the major veterans organizations looking at what is the realistic cost of providing appropriate service. This consortium of veterans organizations has set the bar as well as to how much VA needs will be to treat their patients. This administration has made the war in Iraq and Afghanistan a priority, appropriately so. But at the same time, this administration does not want to provide the resources to meet the health care needs of returning combatants. This war will create a new generation of veterans, and this budget fails to take that into account. This budget has the potential of creating a conflict between generations of veterans.”