|
American Legion blasts lack of 'moral fiber'
in protecting
Veteran Benefits
INDIANAPOLIS, July 26 , 2003 -- The
following statement was released today by the American Legion:
"Where has the moral fiber of the
U.S. Congress gone?"
That is the question Ronald F. Conley,
national commander of The American Legion is asking after the House of
Representatives removed $1.8 billion in health care funds for medical
treatment of veterans, funds that were previously approved by the same
body. "These lawmakers agreed on $27.1 billion in April. Now they
pass a bill in July that is $1.8 billion short of that. This is a moral
outrage," Conley said.
"How can members of the House of
Representatives possibly cut veterans health care funds as America's men
and women are fighting and dieing every day in the war on
terrorism?" Conley asked.
"I was at the U. S. Army hospital
in Landstuhl, Germany where three plane loads of wounded arrived every
day.
"Just a week ago I visited with
wounded military men and women in Walter Reed Army Hospital, a short cab
ride from Capitol Hill. The heroes I met I will remember forever. A
young man from Micronesia, a triple amputee. Another from Pennsylvania,
my home state, who lost both eyes and parts of one hand and a leg. Still
another, just 21-years-old missing a right leg," Conley related.
"I visited more than 60 VA
medical facilities in the past 10 months. While they provide great care,
they are starving for money," Conley said.
"Removing the agreed upon funding
from the final bill is outrageous! Every American should understand that
at a time when our nation is fighting a war on terrorism members of the
House have provided funding to restore a theater in West Virginia, build
a science center at a university in New York and more than 1,000 home
district projects. Veterans deserve better than being considered pigs at
the trough," Conley said.
"In our nation's history tens of
millions have returned from war changed. Some physically. Some
emotionally. All needing medical care. Cutting health care funding for
veterans while the battle still rages is unprecedented in history.
Normally, it is a few years after the guns fall silent before lawmakers
forget who purchased our freedom. Today, U.S. lawmakers have forgotten
-- and the guns still roar. Why don't they jump in a cab and go to
Walter Reed and look these wounded heroes in the eye? Then go back to
Capitol Hill and try to live with themselves?
"I urge every American to contact
their lawmakers in the House to express their outrage at this failure to
do what is morally right," Conley said. |
Now,
keep up to date with daily feeds of newly posted stories about America's
Seniors...click on the box to the left