[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 91 (Friday, July 1, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1421]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          EMERGENCY SPENDING TO SUPPORT A VA BUDGET SHORTFALL

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                     HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 30, 2005

  Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, it has been recently reported by the 
Department of Veterans Affairs that the veterans healthcare system will 
have $1 billion deficit at the end of FY 05.
  I, like many other Members of Congress, am extremely concerned 
regarding this recent disclosure. As we continue to fight the Global 
war on terror and in Operation Iraqi Freedom, we need to ensure that 
the full range of veterans medical services are available for our 
returning veterans and those that have served before them. Our veterans 
are not served by taking funds from the VA capital investment account. 
These funds are vital to the purchase of new equipment and the 
maintenance and upkeep of VA facilities. I feel that these funds are 
critical to the total healthcare of a veteran. It is important that we 
find the funding necessary to address this shortfall and ensure that 
this does not occur again.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe we must provide funding to makeup for the 
shortfall in veterans healthcare, and I urge you to work with our 
colleagues on the Appropriations and Veterans' Affairs Committees to 
move legislation forward as soon as possible to address this shortfall.

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