Issue Position: Veterans

Issue Position

Since being elected to the House of Representatives, Congressman Lynch has been a strong advocate on behalf of veterans. He has introduced legislation, testified at Veterans' Committee hearings, organized Massachusetts Congressional Delegation meetings with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and worked with like-minded Members of Congress to pressure the Bush Administration to keep America's commitment to our veterans.

Congressman Lynch recently hosted a strategy session with veterans from across the 9th Congressional District to discuss the proposed consolidation of VA Hospitals in Greater Boston. The Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) Process began in 2003 as a study of how to modernize VA facilities throughout the country. In February 2004, the CARES Commission made its recommendations, which included studying the possibility of closing all four of Boston's VA Hospitals and consolidating them into one large hospital. Congressman Lynch and the Massachusetts Delegation led the two-year fight against that proposal, and in July 2005, the VA announced that it had officially rejected the idea.

Unfortunately, as part of the announcement, the VA stated that it would now examine moving inpatient services from Bedford to Brockton and consolidating West Roxbury and Jamaica Plain into one facility. Currently, Congressman Lynch is organizing a meeting between VA Secretary Jim Nicholson and the Massachusetts Delegation to personally explain to him the concerns of Massachusetts veterans. A decision in the CARES process is expected early in 2007.

Although in recent years enrollment in the VA's healthcare program has increased, the VA has been unable to keep up with the increasing demand for veterans' healthcare. In 1995, the VA treated 2.6 million veterans and their families. In fiscal year 2006, the VA expects to treat more than twice that number - 5.4 million. Since funding for these vital programs has not kept pace with the growing demand for care, our veterans have had to endure long waiting lists at VA facilities nationwide. Today, more than 30,000 new veterans are waiting up to six months for their first appointment at the VA, double the number from a year ago.

Congressman Lynch supports a plan for mandatory funding of veterans' health care, placing that program on par with Medicare and Social Security funding to assure that America keeps its promise to veterans.

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