Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2008

Floor Speech

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008 -- (House of Representatives - June 15, 2007)

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Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Chairman, I am proud today to stand with this Congress as it affirms its commitment to the brave men and women who are part of our active and retired military services. Their collective sacrifice and service has been phenomenal, and we must do all we can to ensure that they receive the medical care that they have earned as a result of the sacrifices they have made in service to America. The bill before us provides an historic, substantial boost to the Veterans' Administration, allocating $43.2 billion--$3.8 billion more than the President's request and $6.7 more than the FY 07 allocation--to properly fulfill America's obligation to our servicemen and women and their families.

As a representative of the State with the second highest population of military retirees and veterans--nearly 2 million people--I know many Florida families stand to benefit greatly. The extra funding for the VA to double its benefits personnel in order to reduce the backlog of more than 400,000 benefit claims will do much to improve health care and efficiency for benefits that are due to many Florida families. The top two busiest VA Health Care centers, Bay Pines in St. Petersburg and Haley VA in Tampa, serve residents in my district. I have walked the halls of both facilities, and encountered active and retired military personnel looking for the best care possible for them and their families. This bill provides resources adequate to the enormously important task of supporting our veterans and their families as they transition back into civilian life. It also expands access to vital services in the areas of greatest concern for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan: traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, treatment for burns, and amputation. Haley VA has the distinction of being one of a handful of poly-trauma centers, with special designation to handle traumatic brain injuries, and with its partner, the University Of South Florida College Of Public Health, has been on the forefront of discovering the best roads to effective treatment for those suffering with TBI.

Also, this bill represents the recognition that we must confront, not shy away from, the serious issues in veterans care brought to light by the Walter Reed scandal. $4.1 billion dollars, $508 million above and beyond the President's request, is set aside for the ongoing maintenance and renovation of existing facilities to make certain they remain capable of delivering our veterans the treatment they deserve and need. It also heavily invests in information technology to better track health records, so that no American is allowed to fall through the cracks.

I urge this Congress to back up the talk about supporting our troops with concrete actions. We have an unwavering obligation as a country to do right by our servicemen and women, whether it be in the solemn purpose with which we must always send them off to war, or in providing the necessary care for them and their families upon their return. Their sacrifice must be respected not just with our words, but with our actions.

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