NEWS FROM….

CONGRESSMAN LANE EVANS

RANKING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER

COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

    U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FOR RELEASE: July 27, 1999

VA Committee Chairman Stump

Congressman Lane Evans, the senior Democratic member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, says House Appropriations Subcommittee approval of the $1 billion increase in funding for veterans health care next year recommended by the Administration was "welcome news for veterans." Congress has shown its willingness to follow the leadership of the Administration on providing more funding for veterans health care, Evans comments.

But the senior lawmaker says he is "very disappointed" the subcommittee failed to provide the $1.7 billion increase in funding for veterans health care next year contained in the budget blueprint and called for by Congressman Bob Stump, Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. Stump yesterday renewed his contention that a $1.7 billion increase is still necessary.

In an unprecedented request for additional funding for veterans health care by the Vice-President, Al Gore called for an additional $1 billion in funding for veterans health care next year. In response to the Gore announcement, Chairman Stump said it wasn’t enough. "It’s at least $700 million below what the VA will need to serve the health care needs of veterans," Stump said yesterday.

Evans hopes Chairman Stump will work with his Republican colleagues who control VA funding and secure the additional $700 million for veterans health care funding next year. "I am pleased," says Evans "that the Republican majority controlling the appropriations process has followed the lead of Vice-President Gore in providing more funding for veterans health care. But so far, the Republicans have failed to show the leadership required to provide the full $1.7 billion in funding for veterans health care next year identified by Veterans Committee Chairman Stump and promised by Congress."