[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 50 (Monday, May 2, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 2, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
            VETERANS HEALTH PROGRAMS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1994

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                               speech of

                           HON. JILL L. LONG

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 26, 1994

  Ms. LONG. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support H.R. 4013, the Veterans 
Health Programs Improvement Act. This legislation is necessary if we 
expect the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide quality care to 
our veterans.
  A recent editorial indicated that it would be hypocrisy for fiscal 
conservatives to support this measure. I ardently disagree. As a fiscal 
conservative, I believe that there are many areas of the Federal 
Government where we can make additional cuts. In fact, I supported the 
Penny-Kasich amendment to make $90 billion of specific cuts.
  If we ask the Veterans Health Administration to provide quality 
health care to our veterans, then we must provide them with the 
necessary personnel to do so. If we ask the DVA to compete under health 
care reform, then we must not force them to comply with arbitrary 
staffing levels driven solely by Federal budget concerns. Such a 
handicap would virtually guarantee the demise of the VA.
  Yes--support for this measure will place additional pressure on other 
departments and programs to cut additional personnel. But it is our job 
to establish priorities for Federal programs. Without H.R. 4013, we 
will tell the veterans who use the DVA, predominately older, sicker, 
and poorer veterans, that they are not a priority of this Congress. I, 
for one, am not willing to say that. Please support H.R. 4013 when it 
comes to the floor of the House for a vote.

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