[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 48 (Thursday, March 25, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H1782]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               BUDGET BREAKS CONTRACT WITH U.S. VETERANS

  (Mr. FILNER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I was very happy to hear that the principle 
on which the Republican budget was based was helping the middle class. 
I want America to know that the budget that just passed broke the 
contract with our Nation's veterans.
  The motion that was just passed cut $3 billion over the life of that 
resolution from our veterans' programs. Under that budget, veterans' 
hospitals can close, our veterans with Persian Gulf War illness will 
not get treated, those with Hepatitis C will not be treated, our 
national cemeteries are in danger of being vastly undertreated.
  I am very glad to hear the principles under which this budget was 
passed. This budget breaks the contract with our Nation's veterans. 
This budget is unconscionable, it is shameful, and America ought to 
reject it.

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