Bill Delahunt: “Former soldiers. I only wish that the American veteran was treated as well. What I find particularly unacceptable is the…”

“Former soldiers. I only wish that the American veteran was treated as well. What I find particularly unacceptable is the budget that was submitted by this White House and this President, as far as it relates to the American veterans. The various veterans service organizations, the American Legion, the VFW, the Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed American Veterans claim that the White House budget, as submitted to this Congress, one, would only worsen the backlog processing disability claims; secondly, reduce the number of VA nursing home beds just as the number of veterans who need long-term care is swelling, and force some veterans to pay a fee simply to gain access to the VA health care system, despite the promise that this Congress made back in 1996, that if you were an American veteran, you were entitled to health care, provided by the Veterans Administration. This is a report in the Washington Post dated last week. The commander in chief of the VFW called the President's proposed budget for veterans health care, and this is his quote, ``a disgrace and a sham.'' And, yet, we are supporting health care for 130,000 former Iraqi soldiers, who I am sure are benefiting from the largesse of the American taxpayer. It is time we take care of our own, Mr. Speaker.”