Rep. Corrine Brown: “I rise today on behalf of veterans throughout this Nation and especially in Florida. The Weldon- Brown amendment will…”

“I rise today on behalf of veterans throughout this Nation and especially in Florida. The Weldon- Brown amendment will restore $154,700,000 for a VA Medical Center in Brevard County, FL. This authorized project, included in President Clinton's budget for fiscal year 1996, has been planned for over 10 years. Right now we have a disaster in Florida because Congress has not lived up to its commitment to veterans. The funds for this project will come from the Federal Emergency Agency Disaster Relief which has more than $7 billion and currently has $700,000 in discretionary funds. Perhaps it was an oversight that the House Appropriations subcommittee decided to cut this funding. The 470 bed VA hospital will provide 240 acute care beds and 230 beds for Florida's mentally ill veterans. Here are some of the shocking facts about Florida veterans: First, one in every two veterans who moved last year, moved to Florida. Second, Florida ranks second in the Nation in veterans population, but 46th in medical care funding by the VA. Third, Florida has more than twice the national average of veterans per hospital. Fourth, Florida VA facilities do not have long term beds for the mentally ill. The Brevard VA Medical Center will greatly assist in caring for veterans, especially mentally ill veterans--many of whom are fragile and aging World War II and Korean conflict veterans. These, and all, veterans should expect and receive good care.”