Gwen Graham: “there is no linkage between the January action of cutting off veterans from enrolling in VA health care services and the…”

“there is no linkage between the January action of cutting off veterans from enrolling in VA health care services and the costs which the VA is legally obligated to assume for service personnel who will be returning from the second gulf war. We gave the VA the duty to care for service members after numerous troops returned from the first gulf war. This duty stretches not only to injuries in combat but also those who suffered mysterious illnesses, the cause of which, in many instances, still remains undetermined. The cost of this war will not end with the war itself and will not be confined to the borders of Iraq. Veterans will continue to pay those costs for years to come. We must be prepared for thus far neglected costs of war by assuring the VA will be prepared when the newly created veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom seek their health care. It is our responsibility to assure the VA has adequate resources to fulfill this promise. It is a promise which we, the Congress, made to our servicemen. The Senate, in 1998, unanimously passed the statutory right of veterans to have VA health care for 2 years after they separated from service for those veterans who were actually in combat in this and possibly future engagements. I urge my colleagues to join me in this effort to see our veterans are provided the care they are currently earning by their service.”