John Mica: “Something is really wrong when we as a Congress have provided better benefits to illegal immigrants than we have to…”

“Something is really wrong when we as a Congress have provided better benefits to illegal immigrants than we have to people who have served this country, people who have fought and sacrificed for this country. Something is wrong when benefits for a volunteer program are more important than medical assistance for our veterans. We have cut our programs across this country and we need to direct our priorities at this time to those veterans who have served this country. I speak in strong support of this amendment. Mr. Chairman, something is wrong when we as a Congress have provided better benefits to illegal immigrants than to people who have served, fought and sacrificed for this country. Something is wrong when benefits for a volunteer program are more important than medical assistance for our veterans. Today, we propose a cut in a volunteer program that has pay and perks. Today, we have tough choices. Today, in central Florida we have over 150,000 veteran patient visits to a veterans outpatient clinic that was designed for 50,000. Now the VA Administrator is threatening to abandon plans to continue the conversion of our former Naval Training Center Hospital to a veterans outpatient clinic. Now we have a choice: benefits to our veterans or benefits to volunteers. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, make tough choices today and support our veterans and their well-deserved medical services.”