[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 4, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E991]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SERVING NEW JERSEY'S VETERANS BETTER

                                 ______


                            HON. BOB FRANKS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 4, 1996

  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H.R. 3376, a bill which authorizes major medical construction projects 
for the Department of Veterans Affairs in fiscal year 1997. Among these 
projects, there is one which is special importance to me and to my 
constituents: an allocation of $21.1 million for a new building on the 
grounds of the Veterans Medical Center at Lyons, NJ.
  Lyons Medical Center has served New Jersey's veterans since 1930. The 
Center started life as a long-term care facility with 400 beds for the 
mentally ill. With over 1,000 nursing home and hospital beds and 
outpatient visits totaling over 90,000 a year, Lyons is now the largest 
medical center in the VA's health care system.
  H.R. 3376 will provide Lyons with the funds for a two-story building 
that will replace an aging building currently on site. This new 
building will enable the Center to provide better service in a more 
cost-effective manner. The Center will be able to consolidate the 
hospital's emergency department, diagnostic and treatment services, and 
ambulatory care clinic.
  I regard this work at Lyons as one small part of our country's 
ongoing commitment to its veterans. My father served during World War 
II as a fighter pilot. He and his generation successfully met the 
challenge of defending democracy against the fascist threat.
  I think our generation now is confronted with another kind of threat, 
one from within--that is, our every-growing national debt. In light of 
this problem, we must review our Nation's spending priorities. The 1997 
budget resolution reaches a balanced budget in 2002 while increasing 
spending for Veterans Affairs from $37.8 billion in 1996 to $39.9 
billion in 2002. This Congress stands firm in honoring our obligation 
to veterans, while also honoring our commitment to future generations 
of Americans by passing a balanced budget.
  Mr. Speaker, with H.R. 3376 and its proposed spending to upgrade the 
Lyons Medical Center, the House continues to honor its obligation to 
New Jersey's veterans. I commend Chairman Stump for this excellent 
bill, and urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3376.

                          ____________________