Gwen Graham: “as ranking member on the Committee on Veterans Affairs, I rise to lend my support to the Bond- Mikulski amendment for an…”

“as ranking member on the Committee on Veterans Affairs, I rise to lend my support to the Bond- Mikulski amendment for an additional $1.3 billion for VA health care. I think it is abundantly clear to everyone in the chamber that the VA health care system is in dire need of additional and significant resources. The administration has extolled the proposed VA budget as a historic increase, when in reality this type of increase is beyond what anyone could expect in the current economic climate. It has been touted as an increase of 7 to 11 percent over last year's budget, depending on who is speaking. When you look at the budget proposed by the administration, a different story comes to light. Once the new copayments and fees are stripped away, the theoretical management efficiencies discounted for what they really are, and the accounting tricks are identified, we are left with an appropriation that barely keeps pace with inflation. As we shape VA's budget for the next year, we must move beyond hopeful rhetoric and quack accounting to take an honest assessment of the needs of veterans. We all know--and many of us have mentioned--that more than 100,000 veterans must wait more than 6 months to see VA physicians. While VA's committed professionals are struggling to handle the increased patient load, they are doing it without a corresponding increase in resources. This must be rectified.”