Political Quotes

“first, I want to salute coach the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Osborne) and express my appreciation to him on his leadership on the Rural Veterans Access to Health Care legislation. A concern that I have with veterans health care is the lack of access rural veterans experience in seeking treatment at a VA facility. I represent a largely rural area of Virginia in which over 60,000 veterans reside. In the Commonwealth of Virginia, over 96,000 veterans were treated last year at a VA facility. There are only three VA medical centers located in Virginia to serve these deserving and eligible veterans. The VA has worked hard to expand their services, and they have opened three community-based outpatient clinics, four vet centers, and six mental health satellite clinics throughout the State. Unfortunately, more is needed. The Salem, Virginia VA Medical Center, serving southwest Virginia has identified the lack of access to care for rural veterans as a big challenge that it faces. They provide services for at least 11,000 enrollees in my district alone each year. It is essential that more community-based outpatient clinics be established to accommodate our Nation's veterans living in rural and outlying communities. I am very concerned that the proposed increase for veterans health care in the fiscal year 2005 budget is only $1.2 billion over the amount enacted in 2004.”