[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 48 (Thursday, April 28, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 28, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
       SUPPORT VETERANS' HEALTH PROGRAMS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1994

  (Mr. BILIRAKIS asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, health care reform is at the forefront of 
the national agenda, and that reform will have a tremendous impact on 
the VA health care system. Under the administration's health care 
proposal, VA medical centers will have to compete with private sector 
hospitals. At the same time, the administration's reinventing 
government plan recommends full-time equivalent employee reductions 
totaling 25,493 for the Veterans Health Administration.
  If Congress allows this to happen: VA hospitals will lose 5,000 
doctors, nurses, and other direct patient care staff over the next year 
and 25,000 over the next 5 years; thousands of beds will have to be 
closed because of these staff reductions; and 430,0000 veterans will be 
turned away from VA hospitals during the 5-year period.
  In my opinion these reductions jeopardize the VA's survival under 
health care reform. How can the VA compete with one leg tied behind its 
back?
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4013.

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