[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 116 (Wednesday, August 17, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
            VETS SERVICE-CONNECTED DISABILITIES ENTITLEMENTS

  (Mr. COOPER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks).
  Mr. COOPER. Mr. Speaker, we have to get Federal spending under 
control and balance the Federal budget. Sometimes that means we must 
make across-the-board cuts in Federal spending; nearly every Government 
program must be examined in order for us to put our economic house in 
order.
  But as we make these cuts, one program needs special protection, the 
health benefits we provide for veterans who have service-connected 
disabilities.
  Health benefits for these brave veterans are essential. When we 
recruited the soldiers, we promised them good health care for life, and 
that is a promise we cannot break. That is why in our bipartisan health 
bill we put in $4 billion, exactly the amount the Veterans' Affairs 
requested to help our veterans.
  Our men and women of the armed services risked their lives for this 
Nation. We made a pledge to take care of them. This is a pact that we 
must keep. I urge my colleagues to consider and respect the interests 
of these veterans as we attempt to reform health care and put our own 
economic house in order.

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