|
 Veterans Health Care Supplemental
defeat a 'Bitter
Disappointment,' says DAV
WASHINGTON, April 14 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Disabled American Veterans
National Commander James E. Sursely today expressed the
organization's bitter disappointment that the United States Senate
blocked an amendment to the $80 billion supplemental appropriation
bill to provide $2 billion to cover a critical shortfall in funding
for veterans medical care.
"Less
than half way through the current fiscal year, Veterans Affairs
medical facilities across the country have already run out of money
and face huge deficits, an emergency situation if there ever was
one," Sursely said.
The
amendment failed to win approval in two procedural votes that saw
just one Republican, Pennsylvania's Arlen Specter, along with every
Democrat and the Senate's lone Independent voting in favor.
The
amendment, offered by Senators Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Daniel K.
Akaka (D-Hawaii), would increase funding for the Department of
Veterans Affairs by $1.98 billion for the current fiscal year and
designate it as emergency spending. Some $840 million of that money
would be used to provide each veterans regional health network with
an additional $40 million. The amendment designated $610 million to
address the needs of servicemembers returning from Iraq and
Afghanistan and $525 million would be used to provide mental health
care and treatment for veterans.
"That
money is urgently needed to stem the flow of red ink that threatens
health care for today's veterans and thousands of men and women
injured and disabled during the war in Iraq and Afghanistan," said
Commander Sursely. "Sick and disabled veterans are bitterly
disappointed that some in Congress refuse to act before this
emergency becomes an even worse crisis."
"VA
facilities in every region of the country have exhausted reserve
funds to meet critical needs. Many have stopped hiring doctors and
nurses because of shortfalls, while still others have cut back or
even eliminated medical services. Health care for millions of
today's and tomorrow's veterans is in limbo because Congress and the
Administration have continually failed to adequately fund the VA,"
Sursely said.
The
1.2 million-member Disabled American Veterans, a non- profit
organization founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in
1932, represents this nation's wartime disabled veterans. It is
dedicated to a single purpose: building better lives for our
nation's disabled veterans and their families. For more information,
visit the organization's Web site
http://www.dav.org. |
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