[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 10, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1757]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 H.R. 2861--VA/HUD APPROPRIATIONS BILL

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                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 10, 2003

  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, today I voted in favor of the Veterans 
Affairs and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act of 2004, 
with serious reservations about its funding levels for veterans' 
facilities across the country.
  Veterans deserve more than this bill, which gives the VA $2.1 billion 
less than the House budget resolution requested. It is unconscionable 
that we're not fully funding the VA. I want to see this legislation 
receive full funding during conference committee, before it is sent to 
the President. At a time when we are asking more Americans to sacrifice 
for our Nation, we should not cut funds for medical care facilities 
veterans may need upon their return home.
  I hope that the conference committee can resolve differences between 
the House and Senate appropriations bills and will negotiate for better 
funding of veterans' medical care. A number of veterans' organizations 
have voiced their disappointment in the bill's low level of funding, 
including the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and Veterans 
of Foreign Wars of the United States.
  Earlier today, I offered an amendment to the bill that mirrored my 
recently-introduced bipartisan CARES legislation. This bill, H.R. 2808, 
would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to give Congress 60 
days to review any action proposed closure of VA facilities or beds. 
The legislation comes after the VA suggested that the Dwight D. 
Eisenhower VA Medical Center in Leavenworth may be considered for 
possible downsizing of beds and services.
  Congress needs to be involved in the process of determining the 
future of the VA health care system, especially if facilities are on 
the chopping block. Eliminating services in Leavenworth would be a 
disservice to the men and women who have served our country. In 
addition, redirecting those patients to the Kansas City VA Hospital, 
when there is already a six month wait for non-emergency care, would 
overwhelm a system that is already overwhelmed. After making a 
sacrifice for our country, our veterans should not be denied access to 
health benefits they have earned.

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