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Pelosi, House Democrats to Bush: Supplemental Funding for Veterans' Health Care Is Urgently Needed

June 29, 2005

Pelosi, House Democrats to Bush: Supplemental Funding for Veterans' Health Care Is Urgently Needed

Wednesday, June 29, 2005

Contact: Brendan Daly/Jennifer Crider, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. - House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and other House Democratic leaders held a news conference this morning to release a letter to President Bush today requesting he submit a Supplemental spending bill to address the $1.3 billion shortfall in veterans' health care funding. Below are Pelosi's remarks and the text of the letter, signed by all 206 House Democrats and one Independent:

As we approach this Fourth of July, we remember the sacrifice of our Founding Fathers - the courage, the imagination, the intellect, and the values they presented in the Declaration of Independence. And since then, our country has always been about shared sacrifice - when it came to war, and when it came to peace. That is, up until now.

"The President spoke last night about our men and women in uniform, but he didn't mention veterans. In times of war, we always say that we will leave no soldier behind on the battlefield. Similarly, we should leave no veteran behind when our veterans come home.

"It is sad to see the juxtaposition of events where we have these calls for patriotism that we all identify with - fly the flag every day and honor the flag, especially on the Fourth of July - but where we are not funding our veterans. We are not honoring their commitment or our words of praise for them.

"Over and over again in the last few months, Democrats have had initiative after initiative to fund veterans' health care. Just yesterday, Congressman Chet Edwards sought to offer an amendment to add $1 billion to VA health care. But as has happened over and over again, these increases in VA health care were rejected right down party lines.

"Now that all of a sudden the issue is too hot for the Republicans to handle, they are saying they didn't know about the shortfall. We want to be sure that they know about it; we want to be sure that they act upon it; and we want to be sure that our veterans have the services that they need and that we promised them. That is the least we can do to honor their service, their courage, their patriotism, and the sacrifice they are willing to make for our country.

"Today, on the Transportation, Treasury, HUD, Judiciary, District of Columbia appropriations bill that is on the floor, we will try once again. We must fully fund veterans' health care."


June 29, 2005

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We are writing to request that you submit a FY 2005 supplemental funding request adding at least $1.3 billion to address the shortfall in veterans' health care funding that your Administration has identified. This additional funding is urgently needed today to care for troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the heroes from former conflicts who rely upon the VA for their health care. In addition, we request that you submit an amended FY 2006 budget to account for the veterans' health care shortfall that is now evident in your Administration's 2006 budget request.

In our estimation, your FY 2005 VA budget request was short $2.5 billion. While Congress added $1.2 billion, your budget remained $1.3 billion short. It appears the VA now agrees with our original estimate.

The 2006 budget request was similarly short. What is even more troubling is that funding for veterans' health care beyond 2007 is cut significantly below the amount needed merely to account for inflation. In the future, we urge you to submit veterans' budgets that more accurately reflect the resource requirements of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the health care needs of current veterans and the many thousands returning from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. At a time of war, funding for veterans must be made a clear and unmistakable priority.

We await the submission of your FY 2005 supplemental funding request and amended FY 2006 budget.

Sincerely,

Nancy Pelosi
All House Democrats