[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 67 (Friday, May 22, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5468-S5469]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              MEMORIAL DAY

 Mr. ROCKEFELLER. ``A nation reveals itself not only by the men 
it produces but also by the men it honors, the men it remembers.'' What 
better way to pay tribute to America's veterans on this Memorial Day 
than to quote our former President, John F. Kennedy. He knew then, in 
1963, that it was imperative we honor and remember our veterans, as 
should know today. We must not forget the sacrifices of the many men 
and women who gave so much for the sake of this great country, and we 
must honor them with our gratitude.
  I stand before you today to salute these veterans. In my home state 
of West Virginia, generations of veterans have served in the Armed 
Forces, and many have lost their lives. This country would not be the 
world power that it is today had it not been for these men and women 
who fought so bravely. Let us not just know that this day is Memorial 
Day, let us take a moment to put names, faces, on these veterans. 
Husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, and children. Friends to us all; 
friends who fought for our freedom. Freedom that we share every single 
day of our lives. Freedom that makes America as great as it is.
  Stand proud when you see the American flag waving high in the air. 
Sing along to the Star Spangled Banner. Nod your head in respect when 
you pass by a veterans' cemetery. Behind these symbols of America are 
the people who have made them so remarkable, the veterans of this 
country. They deserve our gratitude on this day and everyday.
  So many veterans gave their lives for this Nation. We cannot forget 
what they did for us. The lives that were lost and the lives that were 
changed forever. It does not matter whether they served in combat or 
peace time. Each left behind familiar surrounds, undertook risks, and 
faced the unknown. We should honor them all for their courage. They 
joined the Armed Forces of this country to defend and protect it, to 
make it safe for their, and our, loved ones.
  We vowed to take care of our veterans when they returned home to us. 
In many ways, we have, by setting up a benefits program and a health 
care system, creating two Committees in Congress to oversee these 
efforts, devoting enormous amounts of resources to their health and 
well being. But I am forced to say that the recent record of this 
administration, and of many in Congress, has deteriorated in the area 
of protecting veterans' benefits. Our commitment to meeting the needs 
of veterans has been eroded, and we can and must do better. There are 
still many areas that need improvement. It is not a perfect system. We 
must strive to better it and not let any of our veterans be 
shortchanged of the benefits and care they so dearly earned and 
deserve.

  I would like to speak about just a few of the ordeals that our 
veterans have had to face after their return from service. I do this to 
acknowledge these problems and to pledge to continue in my fight for 
solutions.
  Gulf War veterans. Even though the war is over, many are struggling 
with illness, often undiagnosed, but nevertheless debilitating. Seven 
years have passed since the end of the Gulf War, and DOD and VA still 
do not know what is wrong with the veterans who

[[Page S5469]]

fought in this war. We need to be able to answer the questions of ``How 
many veterans are ill?'' and ``Are our ill veterans getting sicker over 
time?''
  We also need to provide a permanent statutory authority to compensate 
these veterans. That is why I have introduced legislation, S. 1320, 
that targets these important issues. It took our government 20 years 
after the Vietnam War to assess the effects of Agent Orange and 40 
years after World War II to concede the problems of radiation-exposed 
veterans. We must learn from the lessons of the past and act. We cannot 
allow our Gulf War veterans to keep waiting for the benefits and care 
that they earned seven years ago.
  Or take atomic veterans, who were exposed to ionizing radiation 
during service. I have serious concerns about the way atomic veterans' 
claims are being handled and the way regulations to administer those 
claims are being created. These veterans were intentionally placed in 
harm's way, sworn to secrecy, and abandoned by their government for 
many years. It is critical that we search for a better way to address 
their compensation claims.
  I recently cosponsored legislation that would authorize health care 
for veterans treated with nasopharyngeal radium irradiation, veterans 
who have so far been excluded from access to VA services. These 
veterans, primarily Navy submariner and Army Air corps pilots, received 
nasopharyngeal radium treatments in the 1940's and 1950's to treat and 
prevent inner ear problems that developed due to the inadequate 
pressurization of their respective vessels. Unfortunately, the health 
effects of the treatments that were given to these veterans are 
unknown. However, when such high levels of exposure are sustained, we 
must be concerned about long-term health effects, and thus, we have a 
responsibility to ensure these veterans' access to health care. Simply 
put, it is the right thing to do.
  We owe these veterans. They risked everything for us--their health 
and sometimes even their lives. We should, at least, give them 
appropriate research, health care, and compensation. At least.
  An important issue concerning veterans at this time is the VA budget 
for benefits and health care. I would like to share with America where 
these issues stand.
  First, the benefits side of the budget. The administration this year 
requested a very modest increase of $565 million in funds for benefits 
payments, just what is needed to cover cost-of-living allowances. VA 
has also requested $850 million--$63.5 million above the FY 98 level--
for the account that funds the administration of nonmedical benefits. 
Although these amounts appear to be an increase, VA's benefits delivery 
staff will lose 45 FTE. In a time when it takes VA 157 days to decide a 
new compensation claim, and years longer in appeals cases, it concerns 
me greatly that VA is seeking funds that will not allow it even to 
maintain, at the very least, its current level of staffing.
  I am particularly troubled by the proposal by the administration, 
adopted this very day by the Congress, which cut $10.5 billion from the 
veterans' benefit account over the next five years. This was done by 
removing VA's existing authority to pay compensation to veterans who 
suffer from tobacco-related illnesses, based on the nicotine dependence 
they developed while in the service. The money saved from cutting this 
benefit will be put into more highway spending.
  Although I support a strong highway bill, I firmly believe that it 
should not be funded by cuts in veterans benefits, particularly a 
program cut that totally bypassed the Senate Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs. That is why I offered an amendment to the Budget Resolution to 
protect the funding to the veterans account. Unfortunately, my 
amendment was defeated by a vote of 52-46.
  On the health care side, the VA budget request for medical care is 
$30 million less than last year. The base appropriated funding level of 
$17.03 billion would be supplemented by approximately $560 million from 
veterans' copays and collections from insurance companies. When the 
base funding level is combined with these collections, the VA health 
care system would have $17.6 billion to spend next year--approximately 
what it is spending this year. Unfortunately, this flatlined budget 
makes no allowance for cost-of-living increases for VA employees and 
other rising costs due to inflation.
  The VA health care system is a system in transition. Recent changes 
in lines of authority, resource allocations, and methods of health care 
delivery, as well as downsizings and facility integrations, have 
buffeted the system. While all this reorganization is underway, I am 
concerned that VA have good systems in place to ensure that high 
quality health care is the standard practiced at all VA facilities, 
regardless of where they are located around the country. I will 
continue my efforts to make sure that VA, as the nation's largest 
health care provider, upholds the highest standards of quality of care.
  What is clear is that we still have a lot of work to do for our 
veterans. We have come a long way, but there are still many miles to 
cover.
  They promised us they would risk their lives. We promised them we 
would take care of them. Caring for our veterans is the least we can 
do.
  On this day, ladies and gentlemen, be proud of the men and women--
veterans and service members from every branch and action--who have 
served our nation with courage. And, my colleagues, match your pride 
with a pledge to maintain the nation's commitment to them.
  Veterans have earned our respect and admiration. I am committed to 
upholding their honor the offering them the thanks they so richly 
deserve. I ask you, America, to do no less.

                          ____________________