Kaptur: Administration is Failing America's Veterans
KAPTUR: ADMINISTRATION IS FAILING AMERICA'S VETERANS
Jan 25, 2006
Report reveals that 260,000 Veterans Who Sought VA Care in 2005 Were Turned Away ~ Nearly 10,000 Ohio Veterans Rejected from Health Care Services ~
TOLEDO, OHIO - Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) released the following statement in response to data released today showing that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) turned away nearly 10,000 (see page 2) Ohio veterans who applied for VA health care in FY 2005 due to the Administration's enrollment ban. More than 260,000 veterans nationwide applied to receive health care at the VA but were turned away because of the Bush Administration's cost-cutting decision to limit veterans' access to VA hospitals, clinics and medications. Kaptur has joined congressional Democrats in calling on President Bush to seek adequate funding in FY 2007 to allow these veterans to get care and medications at the VA. The Administration will submit its budget request to the Congress on February 6. The statement follows:
"The cornerstone at the Department of Veterans Affairs from the time of Abraham Lincoln has read: 'To care for them who shall have borne the battle, their widows, and their orphans.' Why can this Administration not keep that promise?
"Veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and the World War II, Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf War vets who served in years past are lined up, waiting to get into the VA health care system. We know we need additional funds for veterans' health care. We seem to be able to find money for everything else, yet the Administration cannot get it right, or does not want to get it right on veterans care.
"Democrats in Congress have worked to secure expanded health benefits to veterans, guardsmen and reservists, by supporting increases in hardship benefits, imminent danger pay, the elimination of out-of-pocket housing expenses, and family separation allowance. We will not stop fighting until our veterans get the benefits they have earned."
Kaptur is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and until last year, when she was elected to the coveted House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, has consistently served on the Veterans' committees. Her bill to create the National World War II Memorial, a 17-year effort from start to finish, was dedicated in 2004.
http://www.kaptur.house.gov/PressRelease.aspx?NewsID=1466