John Thune: “today I rise to speak on a matter of great importance, the state of care received by America's veterans. On April 28. I…”

“today I rise to speak on a matter of great importance, the state of care received by America's veterans. On April 28. I proudly introduced the Veterans' Healthcare and Equitable Access Act of 2005, which will honor America's veterans with the dignity and respect they have earned. This legislation was inspired by my work on the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. I have had the privilege to come face to face with real heroes, like injured veterans returning from the battlefield and grieving survivors who proudly and bravely carry the memory of a fallen soldier with them as they struggle to move on. I have been moved by this experience and I offered this bill to honor their sacrifice and their struggles. The Veterans' Healthcare and Equitable Access Act of 2005 takes a comprehensive approach to fix some of the major problems facing veterans today. Since I was a member of the House of Representatives, I have supported mandatory funding, and the legislation I have introduced underscores that commitment. The widening gap between demand for care and funding is a problem that must be faced head on and dealt with before it spirals out of control. The Veterans' Healthcare Eligibility Act and the Veterans' Millennium Healthcare Care and Benefits Act changed the nature of the VA, but did not change the manner in which the VA was funded. That is why I support mandatory funding for veterans' healthcare, so the VA can finally provide care to those who cared for us.…”