[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 69 (Friday, May 24, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E935-E936]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  2002 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR FURTHER RECOVERY FROM AND 
           RESPONSE TO TERRORIST ATTACKS ON THE UNITED STATES

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                               speech of

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 23, 2002

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4775) making 
     supplemental appropriations for further recovery from and 
     response to terrorist attacks on the United States for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 2002, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Chairman, as Chairman of the House 
Veterans' Affairs Committee, I rise to commend the Appropriations 
Committee, Chairman Bill Young, and particularly Subcommittee Chairman 
Jim Walsh, for including $417 million in urgently needed funding for 
veterans medical care.
  As most of my colleagues know from listening to their constituents, 
the demand for VA health care services has risen significantly in the 
past several years. The Department of Veterans Affairs has had to make 
mid-year changes to their projections of VA health care usage because 
of the dramatic increase in veterans seeking to enroll. In fact, the 
VA's latest budget submission projects that almost 700,000 more 
veterans will receive VA care in 2003 than they had projected just one 
year ago.
  The dramatic upsurge in demand facing the VA is real and substantial. 
With hundreds of new VA community outpatient clinics opened in recent 
years, veterans are now finding that VA health care is available much 
closer to home.
  Prescription drug costs have risen dramatically in the past several 
years, while seniors' incomes levels have remained level. This has 
created a great demand for VA-provided prescription drugs.
  Mr. Chairman, the response to increased demand for VA health care 
services should not be to curtail services or limit access for veterans 
in any way, but rather to provide sufficient resources to pay for 
veterans' health care. America has a special obligation to care

[[Page E936]]

for former soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who risked their lives 
to protect our freedoms and this legislation is another step towards 
meeting that sacred obligation.
  The inclusion of $417 million for VA medical care is a responsible 
and absolutely necessary action that this Congress must take. Again, I 
want to commend Chairman Young, and Subcommittee Chairman Walsh, for 
once again demonstrating their commitment to America's veterans.

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