[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 17, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S3494]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                    VETERANS AND SPENDING REDUCTIONS

 Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I wanted to take a few additional 
minutes today to talk through my recent discussions with veterans' 
organization from Pennsylvania about legislation recently introduced by 
Senator Simpson.
  Senator Simpson, at the request of four major veterans organizations, 
has introduced legislation addressing various inequities in the manner 
in which we treat the health of our Nation's veterans. Many of those 
issues addressed in the bill speak to issues I have witnessed, 
discussed, and worked on during my 5 years in Congress and as a former 
member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee. Issues relating to the 
care and treatment of veterans and efforts to improve the veterans' 
health delivery system are very familiar and important to me.
  Mr. President, I was born and raised on the grounds of a VA hospital 
facility, and I understand the concerns of veterans in this matter. My 
mother and father spent their careers working for veterans in Veterans' 
Administration hospitals. Our veterans fought on many battlefields to 
preserve the liberty of succeeding generations of Americans.
  Today, one of the greatest threats to our children and grandchildren 
is not as much the imminent outbreak of war and the subsequent call to 
service, but rather the massive national debt and annual Federal 
deficits. If nothing is done, the next generation will face a future of 
diminished opportunity and a declining standard of living.
  While service to our country has entitled veterans to very unique 
benefits that are available to no other single group of Americans, 
these benefits are by no means the root cause of our huge Federal 
deficits. I have fought against unnecessary cuts in veterans' programs 
that would have compromised our Nation's commitment to those who have 
served in defense of our freedom.
  At the same time, however, any new spending on veterans' programs or 
benefits must be treated with an equal eye toward fiscal 
responsibility--sufficient spending reductions must occur within the 
Veterans' Administration itself or in other areas of Federal spending. 
At this time, the Simpson bill carries with it a revenue effect of $13 
billion in new spending. I believe that the sponsor and I would both 
acknowledge that this bill should not move through the legislative 
process without a corresponding $13 billion in spending reductions.
  These rules and budget realities are the same that I have operated 
under during my entire service in Congress. Recently, I fought on the 
Senate floor for sufficient spending reductions of $1.2 billion to 
cover and offset the costs of Federal disaster assistance, a large 
portion of which would benefit Pennsylvania communities as we rebuild 
from a blizzard and flood-ravaged winter. And in continuing to address 
the needs of our Nation's veterans, I will maintain this same standard.
  Until such spending reductions are finalized and presented, Mr. 
President, I will temporarily withhold my own efforts and development 
on S. 1543. I understand that the administration is working on a 
legislative proposal similar to the Simpson bill, and that they are 
working through the same budget realities in producing a revenue 
neutral package. I remain committed to supporting our Nation's 
veterans. I support the direction and concept of the Simpson bill, and 
I will work with the sponsor to find cuts to pay for the costs of the 
bill.

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