Barbara Mikulski: “I want to go on record today in support of the amendment to the Fiscal Year 1999 Budget Resolution offered by the…”

“I want to go on record today in support of the amendment to the Fiscal Year 1999 Budget Resolution offered by the Ranking Member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, Senator Rockefeller. Mr. President, since the VA was founded, we have fought a World War, a Cold War and a Gulf War. From the World Wars to Korea, Vietnam to the Persian Gulf, each conflict produced a new generation of veterans with unique needs. The particular needs may vary somewhat for veterans of different eras, but one thing should never change - the commitment that we make to our veterans. Our veterans entered into a covenant with this nation when they agreed to risk their lives for our freedom. We must ensure that promises made must be promises kept. Our veterans must receive quality medical care, effective services and timely processing of benefits. I have fought for many years, and continue to fight, to ensure that our veterans receive the medical care and benefits that they have earned. Mr. President, our veterans didn't waiver when they put their lives on the line. When they were fighting to defend our liberty, risking death to ensure that we could sleep easy at night, they didn't waiver. Mr. President, we should not waiver on our veterans.”