Tom Harkin: “this body is making a major change in the dark, without adequate information of its impact on the States. I have asked…”

“this body is making a major change in the dark, without adequate information of its impact on the States. I have asked the VA for a State-by-State breakdown of their draft reallocation plan so I could share it. However, the VA will not provide it to me. They will not provide it to me. After begging and pleading for information, I found out that 8 of the 22 regional networks are scheduled to receive cuts under the draft plan. I believe that more would be cut under the McCain amendment because the VA is phasing in their change over 2 years. Under the draft VA plan, networks could see cuts as high as 15 percent next year alone. Mr. President, I have an incomplete list of States and these networks that would be cut, up to 15 percent, despite a 2.4 percent increase in this bill. They are Iowa, Nebraska, California, Nevada, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, and Vermont. This is an incomplete and unofficial list. I have derived it from information provided by VA officials. So I want to assure you that this is not in any way complete. Let me tell you about the probable impact on Iowa veterans. Until a month ago the regional network for Iowa and Nebraska was counting on a budget increase commensurate with the proposed 2.4- percent increase in the VA medical budget for fiscal year 1997.”