THE CRISIS TODAY

#1

Vets Rally For Medical Benefits

June 29, 1999

Dear Colleague:

From coast to coast and border to border, our Nations’ veterans are calling on Congress to provide significantly increased funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs and especially for veterans health care.

VETERANS FUNDING –
A CRISIS TODAY
A CATASTROPHE TOMORROW

The voices of Helena veterans joined thousands of others across the country Monday in support of increased funding for Veteran’s Administration medical services.

The veterans want politicians in Washington, DC, to hear their words: Provide the health care necessary and deserved by our veterans.

"It is appropriate to hold this rally on Memorial Day to recognize those veterans who have gone before us. But it is nevertheless important to recognize living veterans for what they have given," said Dennis Mensing, national service officer at Fort Harrison for the Disabled American Veterans.

Source: Helena (MT) Independent Record, 6/1/99; By Paula Clawson (excerpts)

 

THE CATASTROPHE TOMORROW --

House VA-HUD-Independent Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee

(Discretionary Spending In Billions of dollars)

FY 99 Enacted

FY 00 Allocation

FY 00 Allocation vs.

FY 99 Enacted

Shortfall

$72 billion

$66.204

- $5.8 billion

If Congress truly honors the service and sacrifice of America’s veterans, it will increase the FY 00 discretionary spending appropriation for VA to fully offset current shortfalls in VA health care funding and continuing increases in the cost of health care.

Our Nation’s veterans deserve no less.

Sincerely,

LANE EVANS
Ranking Democratic Member

Rep. Evans's Dear Colleagues