Political Quotes

“the bill under consideration on the Senate floor is intended to provide appropriations for the Department of Interior. Unfortunately, we were forced by circumstances to shift our focus during the course of debating this bill to consideration of an emergency issue which faces our Nation that relates to funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs. This is because the President's budget did not provide enough funds to provide quality health care to veterans across America during the remainder of this fiscal year. Last week, the Department of Veterans Affairs admitted to Congress that its budget for the current fiscal year will be at least $1 billion short of the amount needed. Part of the reason for this is reportedly that the Department based its budget needs on faulty estimates. Reportedly, the VA thought it would see a 2.3-percent increase in patient demand for services. In reality, they have experienced increases of 5.2 percent. In other words, the Bush administration miscalculated. Their estimate of veteran patient load was less than half of what actually proved to be the case. Senator Patty Murray of Washington has been our leader on this issue. Repeatedly in the Committee on the Budget and in the Senate she has said the Veterans' Administration was not asking for enough resources to take care of the veterans from other wars and the returning soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan.…”