Political Quotes

“we hear lots of lofty words and phrases uttered in this Chamber when it comes to honoring our military men and women and paying our debt of gratitude to our veterans who have served this country so nobly. But I have found that talk is cheap, and if one wants to know what is really important to the people who occupy this Chamber, one watches where the money goes. How do we use our resources? I want to call to this Chamber's attention two things that have happened recently which negatively impact our Nation's veterans. We are in the process of imposing upon many of our veterans an annual deductible of $1,500 in order for them to receive health care at our veterans' facilities. Madam Speaker, $1,500, a new burden being placed upon our veterans. In addition to that burden, there is an additional burden. In the past, veterans have been able to go to our hospitals and receive prescription drugs by giving a $2 per prescription copay; $2 per prescription. But, sadly, in early February of this year, that copay was increased dramatically by 250 percent. So now veterans do not pay $2 when they get a prescription filled, they are required to pay $7 for each prescription. Now, at a VA hospital in my area, the average veteran gets over 10 prescriptions per month. If we take 10 prescriptions per month and we charge $7 copay per prescription, that is $70 a month, and many of our veterans get their medications for 3 months at a time. If we take 70 times 3, that is $210.…”