[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 160 (Thursday, November 6, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HONORING VETERANS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE McINTYRE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 6, 2003

  Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the 77,000 
veterans in my district who have dedicated their lives to fighting for 
this great country. All Americans must understand that we have a 
responsibility to support the men and women in uniform who risk their 
lives on a daily basis to protect the freedoms we enjoy. We must never 
forget that hundreds of millions of people in the United States and 
around the world sleep in peace because hundreds of thousands of 
Americans rest in graves all across the world--fallen heroes in the 
name of freedom. The price of freedom is always high, but the price of 
war is even higher! And no one knows that better than our Nation's 
veterans. As guardians of freedom, righteousness, and justice, their 
actions have cemented the foundation of this great Nation and helped 
shape the destiny of our Nation and our world. It is their continued 
spirit, service and sacrifice that have helped our country maintain its 
posture in the world, and we cannot afford to ignore the promises we 
made to them when they first made their promise to protect our country.
  First, it's about our veterans' spirit--a spirit that has been 
unsurpassed. Over 48 million Americans have stepped forward to defend 
our land since our Nation's founding. And today, there are 25 million 
living veterans who have served in times of war and peace. Individuals 
who dared to make a difference, and people who were willing to take a 
stand--whether it was convenient or not! Let each of us continue to 
work and honor our veterans' spirit, who have proved their heroism and 
their love for our country--time and time again.
  We must also pay tribute to our veterans' dedicated service to this 
country. From Lexington and Concord to Normandy and Okinawa, from Korea 
and Vietnam to the Persian Gulf, and from the streets of Baghdad to the 
mountains of Afghanistan, our veterans, military retirees, servicemen 
and women have and are defending our great country at a great cost. No 
group of Americans deserve our admiration and respect more than those 
who have worn the uniform of the United States of America and fought to 
protect our homes, our way of life, our freedom, and our future.

  Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear where I stand--on the side of our 
veterans! That's why I am an original cosponsor of a comprehensive 
veterans package. Highlights of this package include:
  Under the current budget rules in Congress, veterans' benefits--the 
money for war service and war injuries are under mandatory spending--
that means whatever the need, there has to be the resources. The money 
for VA hospitals and clinics falls under discretionary spending--that 
is a certain amount that is set aside, and if the need grows for more, 
then it may or may not be increased. I say that's wrong, and I am co-
sponsoring legislation, the Veterans Health Care Funding Guaranteed 
Act, that would give veterans what they have been promised--lifelong 
benefits and health care. This would reduce the national disgrace that 
leaves 200,000 veterans waiting up to 6 months for an appointment at a 
Veterans Hospital. We can and must do better and my plan would reduce 
waiting times for first time doctor appointments to 30 days.
  I support an interim disability payment of $500 per month when claims 
are not expedited after remand.
  I support a full repeal of the concurrent receipt issue. This 
inequity that prevents disabled military retirees from receiving both 
their pensions and disability pay is wrong. While we were able to make 
progress on this issue last year with a partial appeal, more needs to 
be done to fully repeal this, and I am working on that by signing a 
discharge petition to bring this bill directly to the floor of the 
House of Representatives so we can pass it.
  I support legislation to phase out the reduction in benefits in the 
military Survivor Benefit Plan. The benefit to military spouses is not 
what enrollees were promised and the program is not providing the level 
of protection military survivors need and deserve.
  I also support the Keep Our Promises to America's Military Act that 
would ensure full and adequate health coverage for all members of the 
uniformed services by allowing them to participate in the Federal 
Employees Health Benefit Program.
  I support the Military Pay Equity Act that would increase the rates 
of military basic pay for members of the uniformed services.
  I support efforts to improve the Montgomery GI Bill to ensure that 
higher education and training benefits are adequate.
  I support legislation to allow Federal civilian and military retirees 
to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and to allow a 
deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums.
  I support the Truth in Recruiting Act that would mandate that members 
of the Armed Forces shall be entitled to all benefits they were 
promised when they originally entered the service. Under this bill, 
each member of the Armed Forces would be given a written statement 
describing the benefits that will be provided to that person if he or 
she attains retirement status.
  I support the Veteran's Right to Know Act that would require the VA 
to inform veterans about eligibility for benefits and health-care 
services whenever a veteran first applies for any benefit with the VA. 
It would also help widows and survivors of veterans by informing them 
at the time of a burial request or application for life insurance 
proceeds about the full array of benefits available to them.
  And recently, I submitted testimony to the VA Cares Commission urging 
them to expand the Fayetteville VA Medical Center, which currently 
operates in antiquated facilities. The proposed plan calls for an 
expansion of the outpatient facility and an additional 110,000 square 
feet. Because the Fayetteville clinic is such an important facility to 
veterans in North Carolina, it is important that it remains in the 
proposed national plan. I have also supported additional VA clinics in 
my district in Lumberton and Supply, as well as an expansion of the 
Wilmington VA clinic.
  Finally, it is our veterans' sacrifice that has brought true freedoms 
to this nation! It is a sacrifice I have seen in the hearts and eyes of 
men and women in uniform around the globe with whom I have visited. It 
is a sacrifice that does not complain. It is a sacrifice that is 
respectful. It is a sacrifice that is genuine. And it is a sacrifice 
that we all must respect.
  This is not a partisan issue. It is an American issue. And we must 
stand shoulder-to-shoulder and respect the spirit, service, and 
sacrifice of our nation's veterans. Nothing less is acceptable.

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