Peggy Flanagan: “I rise in support of the Stump amendment to H.R. 1158. This amendment provides us with a chance to maintain the…”

“I rise in support of the Stump amendment to H.R. 1158. This amendment provides us with a chance to maintain the commitment to our veterans that we entered into when they chose to give of themselves for us. The $206 million this amendment would restore to the Veterans' Affairs budget is vital to providing our veterans with more modern outpatient care and catching up with the current backlog of essential medical equipment purchases. Without this money, the VA would not be able to provide improved, more cost-effective outpatient-based medical services to areas servicing over 1.2 million veterans. Furthermore, the VA would not be able to meet existing healthcare system equipment needs. Our Nation's veterans deserve our highest priority. It is hardly fiscally irresponsible to oppose this rescission. In fact, the funds in the Stump amendment promote fiscal responsibility. Last year, VA hospitals provided care for 26.3 million outpatients. This amendment would allow for the construction of six desperately needed outpatient clinics. Without them, the VA would have to continue to rely on expensive inpatient care, when outpatient visits can provide our veterans more modern and cost-effective assistance. These clinics are fundamental to our commitment of providing our veterans with the best care available. Outpatient clinics provide better care to a larger number of veterans for maximum return on the dollar.”