[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 106 (Friday, July 31, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1489]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DEPARTMENTS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, AND 
             INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                     HON. CARLOS A. ROMERO-BARCELO

                             of puerto rico

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 29, 1998

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4194) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and 
     Housing and Urban Development, and for sundry independent 
     agencies, boards, commissions, corporations, and offices for 
     the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999, and for other 
     purposes:


  Mr. ROMERO-BARCELO. Mr. Chairman, today, the House of Representatives 
is considering the VA-HUD appropriations bill. An amendment was 
presented--and defeated--on the floor of the House that would have 
prevented the Veterans Administration from implementing and 
administering the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation System, 
commonly known as VERA.
  I opposed this amendment because the American veterans in Puerto Rico 
deserve to be treated fairly and equitably. Our Nation has a moral 
obligation to fulfill our promises to the men and women who have 
patriotically defended our democracy and the very values that enable us 
to enjoy our freedom, liberties and rights. Puerto Rico already has one 
of the largest veterans populations nationwide. In the past we have 
been shortchanged in the allocation of resources; a failure that has 
discriminated against the very men and women who deserve our utmost 
respect.
  As Congress continues to cut funding for veterans programs, we must 
look to the best way to maximize the available resources so that all 
veterans nationwide are treated equally and fairly. This is what VERA 
does. This innovative VA program provides a more efficient and 
effective allocation of resources that considers workload and demand, 
promotes a better labor-patient mix and supports research and education 
funding per patient. The end result is a more equitable distribution of 
much needed funds that takes into account population shifts in the 
provision of quality health care to our Nation's veterans.
  I salute my colleagues in the House of Representatives for 
considering the needs of American veterans and in particular their 
support for the veterans in Puerto Rico. It is our responsibility and 
duty to provide our veterans the quality care they have so valiantly 
earned in a prompt, respectful and courteous manner. We need to keep 
our promises.

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