Blake Moore: “providing for veterans and their families is one of my highest priorities in Congress. The men and women who served in…”

“providing for veterans and their families is one of my highest priorities in Congress. The men and women who served in the armed services deserve the gratitude of the entire Nation. But rather than fulfilling our obligations to veterans and ensuring the continuation of benefits and the improvement of veterans' health care, we are letting veterans down. H.R. 2684 fails our veterans. This bill provides $1.5 billion more than fiscal year 1999 funding, and $1.6 billion more than requested by the president--but this is not enough. The Independent Budget, published by Paralyzed Veterans of Americans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and AMVETS, demands a budget increase of $3 billion for fiscal year 2000. This is the necessary amount to provide the health care and other services that veterans deserve. I have met with many Kansas veterans and heard accounts of substandard health care and loss of benefits. Not only are we eliminating treatment, we are rationing the health care we do provide. Veterans have shared their frustration with the state of veterans' health care, describing accounts of VA hospitals delaying and denying services. These men and women sacrificed for our country. They were willing to give their lives to protect the principles of our Nation. But instead of honoring and providing for our veterans, we are denying them the services they desperately need.”