Daniel Akaka: “Before I address the proposed funding for VA in the budget resolution for fiscal year 2008, I applaud Chairman Conrad…”

“Before I address the proposed funding for VA in the budget resolution for fiscal year 2008, I applaud Chairman Conrad and his colleagues on the Budget Committee for their hard work on this resolution. The measure before us today clearly reflects the right priorities and directions for our Nation. For a number of years, I have made the case for the President to include funds for VA health care as part of the war supplemental packages he has submitted to Congress, and every year, my colleagues and I fought to get those funds included in the budget resolution to no avail. The pending budget resolution finally recognizes that caring for returning service members and veterans is part of the cost of war and in turn proposes to fund VA health care appropriately for this effort. Right now, a great deal of attention is being paid to the needs of our men and women in uniform--attention that Chairman Conrad, myself, and other Members of this Chamber have been talking about for quite some time. I am proud to stand with Chairman Conrad in support of our service members and veterans.”