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OPENING STATEMENT OF HONORABLE LANE EVANS

RANKING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER
COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

ADMINISTRATION BUDGET REQUEST FOR FY 1999

February 12, 1998

I am very pleased to welcome all of you here this morning. We have a distinguished group of witnesses, and I look forward to hearing from all of you.

As most of you know, we heard from the Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs last week regarding the Administration’s proposed budget for fiscal year 1999. At that time, I voiced my concern regarding the linking of long-overdue increases in VA education benefits to the enactment of controversial legislation which would repeal existing authority to provide compensation for tobacco-related disabilities. I also voiced my concern regarding the disturbing change in philosophy related to funding for veterans’ medical care reflected in the Administration’s budget. My concerns were in no way lessened by the discussion we had with the Secretary and other VA officials at that hearing.

I believe that, through their service in America’s Armed Forces, our veterans have earned access to the benefits and programs our grateful Nation has provided for them. These benefits should be funded at the levels necessary to ensure that they accomplish the purposes for which they were established. They should be directly funded – no gimmicks, no strings attached. And these benefits should be reliable. Eligible veterans should know that they will have access to health care and not wonder if their care is dependent on VA’s ability to collect nonappropriated revenues. Veteran students should know that their education benefits will keep up with the increasing costs of education. Service-disabled veterans should know that the specially adapted housing grant provided for them will keep pace with increased costs of real estate and construction. The Department of Labor’s programs specifically designed to meet the needs of homeless veterans should be fully funded up to the level authorized by Congress.

Does the Administration’s budget for fiscal year 1999 accomplish these goals? I believe the answer is no -- it does not. This budget does not provide the resources required to fulfill the mandate and intent of Congress and of the American people – and I hope that all of us on this Committee will fight for a budget that fulfills our Nation’s solemn obligation to our veterans.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I look forward to this morning’s testimony.