Alan Simpson: “I rise to speak briefly on S. 1711, the Veterans Benefits Improvements Act of 1996. This bill is one of three major…”

“I rise to speak briefly on S. 1711, the Veterans Benefits Improvements Act of 1996. This bill is one of three major veterans' bills being considered this week by the Senate; the other two are S. 1791, a bill to provide cost of living increases to recipients of veterans' benefits, and H.R. 3118, a compromise measure crafted jointly by the members of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs which would, among other things, reform the eligibility standards for VA health care. These three bills are the culmination of 2 years of work in the Veterans' Affairs Committee. They are all good bills, bills that have achieved bipartisan support within the Committee. They are also bills that, while they put into place useful, even vital, legislation--without 'breaking the bank.'”