[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 179 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 179

     To express the sense of the Senate regarding ensuring quality 
                 healthcare for our Nation's veterans.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 13, 2001

Mr. Bond submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     To express the sense of the Senate regarding ensuring quality 
                 healthcare for our Nation's veterans.

Whereas President George W. Bush and the United States Senate designated this 
        week, November 11 through November 17, 2001, as National Veterans 
        Awareness Week;
Whereas the United States owes a great debt of gratitude to the veterans who 
        have made untold sacrifices for our Nation;
Whereas it is the policy of the United States to provide quality healthcare to 
        veterans who have served our Nation in times of peace and war;
Whereas our Nation's Government has an obligation to ensure that veterans 
        receive quality healthcare each and every day of their lives and to 
        protect them from abuse and neglect;
Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs has projected a significant increase 
        in the demand for long-term healthcare for veterans over the next 
        decade;
Whereas the Department of Veterans Affairs has projected the number of veterans 
        age 85 and older will increase threefold, reaching nearly 1.3 million by 
        2010;
Whereas the prevalence of chronic health conditions and disabilities increases 
        markedly at advanced age;
Whereas the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act of 1999 required 
        that the Department of Veterans Affairs provide long-term healthcare to 
        eligible veterans;
Whereas President George W. Bush issued an executive order creating a 
        Presidential Task Force to improve healthcare for veterans and military 
        retirees;
Whereas the General Accounting Office has issued a report finding that the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs cannot be assured that all veterans will 
        receive care in private nursing facilities that meets the standards 
        established by the Department of Veterans Affairs;
Whereas the General Accounting Office has found that the Department of Veterans 
        Affairs needs to strengthen its oversight of veterans placed in private 
        nursing facilities;
Whereas the Inspector General for the Department of Veterans Affairs has 
        reported since 1994 about issues that the Department of Veterans Affairs 
        needs to address to improve the care of veterans in private nursing 
        facilities;
Whereas the Inspector General for the Department of Veterans Affairs has 
        reported that at least one veteran died after being lost to the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs oversight; and
Whereas the death of even one veteran due to substandard care is unacceptable: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That--
            (1) the Senate urges the Secretary of the Department of 
        Veterans Affairs to work hand-in-hand with the Secretary of the 
        Department of Health and Human Services and the Administrator 
        for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to improve 
        coordination among and between these agencies to provide 
        quality healthcare for the men and women who have served in 
        uniform, and specifically those who require long-term care; and
            (2) the President and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        should act promptly and deliberately to protect veterans from 
        the dangers of abuse and neglect and to ensure that they 
        receive the highest quality of long-term healthcare.
                                 <all>