[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 70 (Tuesday, May 18, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E902]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          VA HOSPITAL CLOSINGS

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 18, 2004

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, without our veterans, there would be no 
America. As we remember those who sacrificed their lives for our 
Nation, let us remember that daily we reap the benefits of the bravery 
of America's veterans.
  However, despite these sacrifices, our veterans continue to fight 
against this Administration for the benefits that they were initially 
promised every day. At the same time, we have continuously seen the VA 
budget slashed, giving fewer and fewer veterans the ability to receive 
the much needed assistance they were once guaranteed.
  At the very least, our veterans, the brave men and women who put the 
life of their country before their own, should have access to health 
care facilities that meet their needs. However, we are now seeing 
critical hospitals closed, and often times they are the only option 
that our veterans have, especially in rural areas such as my district 
in Southern West Virginia. The Beckley VAMC in my district was 
fortunately spared from closing, however, others were not so lucky, and 
if current trend continues, it will only be time until the real 
possibility of closing looms near again.
  Instead of closing these much needed facilities and cutting benefits 
once promised to our veterans, we should be modernizing hospitals, 
expanding benefits currently offered to our service men and women, and 
continuing to ensure that we show these brave Americans our gratitude 
for their service every single day. Our Nation needs to move further in 
a direction that allows us to reward our veterans for their sacrifices 
they have made, wherever and whenever they made it.
  Our veterans and soldiers today remain foremost in the thoughts and 
minds and Americans, and along with our devoted attention given to 
those who wear America's uniform. If we continue to create more and 
more veterans everyday, especially through recent conflicts in Iraq and 
Afghanistan, then this government needs to be prepared to follow 
through on the promise that their government will be there to take care 
of them. Each life is invaluable; let's ensure that we demonstrate our 
support and appreciation for what our veterans have done for America.

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