H.Con.Res.
83
Mr. Speaker, simply stated, H.Con.Res. 83 should be defeated. The budget resolution reported by the House Budget Committee on a straight party-line vote, fails our veterans. It does not provide the discretionary funding needed for veterans’ benefits and services, particularly health care. H.Con.Res. 83 falls far short of the $2.1 billion increase in discretionary funding for veterans programs next year which Chairman Chris Smith and I agreed was needed to, “Help us raise veterans benefits and services to a level at which we can confidently say as a Nation in freedom and at peace, at a time of plenty, we provide for our veterans.”
It is bad enough that this budget fails to provide the funding needed for
next fiscal year, which begins on October 1, 2001.
But adding insult to injury, this budget plan actually calls for a nearly
one billion dollar cut in funding for veterans benefits and services in the
following budget year, fiscal year 2003. The
$24.3 billion in discretionary spending proposed by the Budget Committee will
not adequately fund veterans
programs for fiscal year 2002. The
nearly one billion reduction in funding for 2003 is a blueprint for devastating
cuts in benefits and services for veterans.
These are the benefits and services our veterans have earned by their
honorable service to the Nation.
Perhaps even worse, the Budget Committee plan directs the House Committee
on Veterans Affairs to achieve “savings” in veterans benefits programs of
more than $7 billion. I look
forward to the Budget Committee members who support this blueprint providing
details on the specific veterans benefits they propose to reduce or eliminate.
Clearly, Congress should not cut veterans benefits provided in current
law to help finance a nearly $2 trillion tax cut.
A tax cut that mainly benefits those who are already the richest in our
society. That is what this budget asks.
I say no.
This nation honors its commitments. We have a national obligation to
veterans. But it seems some want to
ignore our nation’s obligations to veterans.
For them honoring this nation’s obligations to veterans is not a
priority.
Their priorities include instead a
massive tax cut for the wealthiest in our society. Some veterans wait an entire year for a medical clinic
appointment. That is shameful. That
does not honor the sacrifice and service of our veterans. Some pay lip service to veterans, but veterans need real
service.
If we do not honor veterans in
both words and deeds, then we dishonor their service. I will not ignore America’s veterans. They have already given of themselves for us.
As a nation, we owe veterans a
tremendous debt. Our budget surplus
allows that debt to be repaid if veterans are truly a priority. Veterans should be first in line. Today they are being pushed to the back as massive tax cuts
for the wealthiest in society are the flavor of the month.
Our nation does not fully honor
its obligations to veterans when we pause briefly on Memorial Day and Veterans
Day. Our nation does not fully
honor its obligations to veterans by building monuments. How well our nation honors its obligations to veterans is
best measured in the benefits and services we provide those who have served and
sacrificed for our Nation.
For these reasons and others, I
urge the defeat of H.Con.Res. 83.