Steve Israel: “I rise today to recall that George Washington once said that the ``willingness of future generations to serve in our…”

“I rise today to recall that George Washington once said that the ``willingness of future generations to serve in our military will be directly dependent upon how we have treated those who have served in the past.'' Unfortunately, that is a lesson that still hasn't been learned in the city that bears his name. Today, the House considered legislation funding the Veterans Administration. This bill funds veterans' programs at a level $1.8 billion less than was promised in the budget passed through the House just a few months ago. Veterans' health care is no place to start slashing funding. We cannot send troops into war today and cut their vets benefits tomorrow. We cannot ask them to fight in Iraq and, then, when they come home tell them that we've slashed spending, causing veterans to lose access to VA health care. There is no excuse for trying to balance domestic budgets on the back of those willing to fight to protect our freedoms. The funding level set out in the bill today does not keep pace with hospital inflation or the growth in the numbers of veterans enrolled. There is a staggering crisis in veterans' medical care: an average of 200,000 veterans are waiting six months or more for an appointment at Veterans Administration hospitals. Some are even dying before they get to see a doctor.”