[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 25 (Wednesday, March 8, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H705]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    VETERANS' BUDGET ON RIGHT TRACK

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STEARNS. Madam Speaker, today I want to talk about the veterans 
budget for the year 2001. Now, the administration has presented a 
budget, and it is a good start. The budget which was presented is much 
better than last year, which fell short in several areas, and that is 
why as the chairman of the Subcommittee on Health I have recommended an 
increase of $25 million above the President's request for medical 
research.
  The committee has also recommended increasing the administration's 
proposed $60 million for State veterans home construction grant 
programs to $140 million.
  As the sponsor of the Veterans Millennium Health Care Act, which 
requires VA to fund pending projects and to revise the priorities for 
the award of new grants, the proposed reduction in funding would result 
in projects being delayed another year or more.
  This is a top priority for me. I will fight to get these proposed 
increases passed. Overall, the committee recommends a $100 million 
increase over the President's budget request. Veterans deserve our 
deepest respect and we must keep the promises we made to them.

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