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Ms. DEAN of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, my Pennsylvania district is home to more than 32,000 veterans, many of whom rely on physical and mental health care from three VA medical centers: Lebanon in Berks County, Coatesville in West Norriton, and Philadelphia for Montgomery County.
Yet, because of President Trump, the VA, which cares for more than 9 million veterans nationwide, has been gravely weakened. Already in Coatesville and Philadelphia, they were forced to rescind job offers to physicians and to lay off administrative and clerical staff.
The Trump administration has jeopardized care, putting lives and health at risk. Many of the brave men and women who serve in our Armed Forces continue to serve our Nation in the civilian workforce, including in the VA.
So far, 1,400 employees have been dismissed and an internal memo shows 80,000 more to come--the firing of 80,000 VA workers.
DOGE and this incompetent, chaotic administration are breaking our most sacred promise to our veterans. They fought for us; we must fight for them.
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