David Obey: “This amendment would restore the much needed funding for veterans' health care facilities and equipment. It restores…”

“This amendment would restore the much needed funding for veterans' health care facilities and equipment. It restores $206 million for veterans' health care and provides for an identical offset in NASA's science, aeronautics, and technology account. The total NASA budget is $14.4 billion so this amendment cuts only 1.4 percent of the NASA budget so that we can afford better health care for veterans. There is little debate that this funding for veterans' health care is needed. This amendment restores funding to build six critically needed VA outpatient clinics and to replace worn-out medical equipment at VA facilities. Each of these clinic projects has been carefully considered and authorized. They are an essential part of the VA's effort to move away from costly inpatient care to delivering cost-effective outpatient care. This shift will provide better care for more veterans at lower cost to taxpayers. While these NASA programs undoubtedly have merit, we do have to make tough choices.”