[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 4, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1131-E1132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          ASSURED FUNDING FOR VETERANS HEALTH CARE ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LANE EVANS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 4, 2003

  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, today, on behalf of myself and 72 of my 
colleagues, I am introducing H.R. 2318 the ``Assured Funding for 
Veterans Health Care Act of 2003.'' Starting in Fiscal Year 2005, the 
bill would require the Secretary of the Treasury to provide funding for 
the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System based on the 
number of enrollees in the system and the consumer price

[[Page E1132]]

index for hospital and related services. I believe the measure I am 
offering will create a vastly improved funding system that better 
responds to the needs of our veterans.
  Last week the President's Task Force to Improve Health Care Delivery 
For Our Nation's Veterans issued its final report. In it, the ``growing 
mismatch between funding and demand'' is repeatedly referenced. To 
address this problem, the report recommended: The Federal Government 
should provide full funding to ensure that enrolled veterans in 
Priority Groups 1 through 7 (new) are provided the current 
comprehensive benefit in accordance with VA's established access 
standards. Full funding should occur through modifications to the 
current budget and appropriations process, by using a mandatory funding 
mechanism, or by some other changes in the process that achieve the 
desired goal. (p. 77)
  In addition, the Task Force addressed the need to clarify standards 
of access for Priority 8 veterans. Priority 8 veterans are the so-
called ``high-income'' veterans without compensable service-connected 
conditions. Who are these individuals? Anyone with an income level of 
more than the geographically adjusted Housing and Urban Development 
threshold for low-income housing is considered ``high income''. In some 
communities, this means veterans with incomes of more than $24,644--
most often work-a-day folks who sometimes have to choose between 
prescription drugs and heat or groceries. My bill would cover these 
veterans.
  Some will say that we've done well by our veterans this year. I would 
say it might well have gone the other way. This body passed a budget 
resolution that would have required us to cut veterans benefits during 
a period of war. It still remains unclear how veterans' health care 
will fare when pitted against such disparate programs as low-income 
housing, the space program and other independent agencies. Other health 
programs such as Medicare and TRICARE for Life are not subject to the 
same types of considerations because funding for these programs is 
based on need.

  The result of this funding process is the ``growing mismatch'' 
addressed by the President's task force--the system is starving! We all 
have heard the numbers of veterans who have waited more than six months 
for health care services. There were more than 200,000 veterans in the 
queue at the beginning of the year. Even with increases proposed in the 
joint budget resolution, VA will still impose some regulatory 
constraints on access and has identified more than a billion in 
illusory ``management efficiencies.''
  Last year, I cosponsored H.R. 5250, the ``Veterans Health Care 
Funding Guarantee Act of 2002'' with 129 other members of the House. 
The bill I am offering today closely resembles that legislation. The 
Congressional Budget Office slapped a hefty price tag on H.R. 5250 
largely assuming huge increases in demand would result if the veterans' 
health care system were adequately funded! Think about this--our budget 
office assumes that our health care system for veterans is so fiscally 
deprived that a fairer funding system that responds to changes in 
demand would create a run on health care!
  Our veterans deserve better than a chronically underfunded health 
care system. I believe veterans--all veterans--have earned the right to 
access the health care system that was created to serve their needs. 
The price we pay as a Nation for assuring timely access to high-quality 
health care services is small in relation to the price we have asked 
them to pay in securing our freedom.
  I urge my colleagues to join me and the 72 other members of the House 
that believe this is the right thing to do for our veterans. Every 
major veterans service organization, including The American Legion, 
Disabled American Veterans, and Veterans of Foreign Wars, has stated 
support for this bill. Join us in the fight to do the right thing for 
our veterans. Join me in cosponsoring the ``Assured Funding for 
Veterans Health Care Act of 2003''.

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