NEWS FROM….

CONGRESSMAN LANE EVANS

RANKING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER

COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS

    U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Washington, DC – After a seven-month battle to gain adequate funding for veterans health care, Congressman Lane Evans of Illinois, Democratic Leader of the House Veterans Affairs Committee today called upon House members to vote against the Republican VA-HUD appropriations bill for fiscal year 2000. "The $700 million dollar add-on which the Republicans supported to the Administration’s VA funding request sounds substantial," Evans says, "but it still fails to meet the needs expressed from VA officials both on and off the record."

Unfortunately, Evans notes, without support from either the Republican Rules Committee or the Republican leadership of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, an amendment that would have more than doubled the additional funds for the veterans’ health care system did not come to a vote. "The Republicans’ unwillingness to delay a cut in the capital gains tax for one year," Evans says, "will mean that veterans may not receive the health care they need and the level of service they deserve."

Despite the inadequacy of the Republican funding bill, Evans thanked Members on both sides of the aisle who have worked hard to make improved funding for health care for veterans a hallmark of this Congress. "We began this budget process with a funding proposal from the Administration that was inadequate," Evans says. "I commend the Administration for its willingness to reconsider its initial budget proposal. By adding $1 billion, they were responsible for the significant additional funding for veterans’ health care which this Congress has agreed upon. I particularly thank Vice President Gore for his leadership in the Administration’s decision to request an additional one billion dollars for veterans medical care for fiscal year 2000."

Even so, the House passed VA-HUD Appropriations is far from adequate. While the $1.7 billion increase in funds for VA medical care has repeatedly been called the largest funding increase in VA history, the simple fact is this additional $1.7 billion will not even be enough to pay for increased costs VA already anticipates for next year.

"With adequate funding, VA could have eliminated serious problems with waiting times that confront veterans in primary care and other clinics," Evan says. "It could have helped veterans obtain much needed medical supplies -- wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, hearing aids, and eyeglasses -- on a more timely basis." Additional funds would also have helped VA face the emerging public health crisis of Hepatitis C by adding funds to over-extended pharmaceutical budgets. It would have assisted VA to restore some of the significant reductions that have been made in mental health services. It would also have helped facilities meet the overwhelming need for long-term care that aging World War II veterans are now facing.

Evans noted the Independent Budget for VA prepared by four veteran service organizations called for a $3 billion increase in funding for VA next year. Unfortunately, the Republican majority has consistently opposed the $3 billion increase called for by organizations representing veterans who use and depend on VA medical care. Congress should have listened to our veterans, Evans added.

Throughout the floor debates on the VA-HUD bill, Evans says, "we have seen the Republican majority refuse to consider amendment after amendment that would have provided for something closer to adequate health care for our Nation’s veterans. This is an inadequate appropriation. America’s veterans know this and most Americans know this. I am unable to support it."