Bill Delahunt: “If we could just juxtapose these two pictures. As these young men and women get on an American naval vessel and go to…”

“If we could just juxtapose these two pictures. As these young men and women get on an American naval vessel and go to war, the bands are playing, there is confetti, there are waves, there is our flag, there is our political leadership applauding them; and yet when they return and assume that honored title ``veteran,'' we disrespect them, dishonor them; and we have broken our promises to them again and again and again. The most dishonored, disrespected group who deserves our ultimate gratitude in this country is the American veteran. And as the gentleman has so well put it, we are ignoring them. I do not know if anyone who has this information could vote for this supplemental, including this gift to Iraq, and not insist that the American veterans' health needs be met. My colleague mentioned earlier about deductibles. I know the gentleman knows because of his service on the Committee on Veterans Affairs, and because of his work with veterans all over this country, that there is a long waiting list to get an appointment in veterans health care centers, whether it be primary care or even veterans hospitals.”