[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 95 (Thursday, July 14, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. GENE GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 13, 2005

  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to offer my 
support for this bill, but also to voice my concerns with the 
Leadership and Administration's handling of other veterans' issues. 
This bill is recognized by members on both sides of the aisle as 
necessary to ensure veterans' compensation is adjusted regularly each 
year to keep up with inflation and other market trends by linking the 
increase to that of the Social Security COLA, which is based on changes 
in the Consumer Price Index.
  This is a common-sense approach to ensure veterans' compensation 
keeps pace with the cost of living. It would make sense then that a 
similar approach would be taken using an appropriate formula to 
determine funding levels for other programs such as VA healthcare. 
Instead, House Leadership has refused to move legislation for the last 
three Congresses to reform the discretionary budget-appropriations 
process for VA healthcare, and the result is the current funding crisis 
that the VA is experiencing.
  Less than two weeks after first telling Congress it could ride out 
the fiscal year with inadequate funding, then reversing and asking for 
$975 million in supplemental funds, the Administration admitted this 
week that it needs yet another $300 million to take care of veterans' 
health care needs through September. Had this House followed the 
Senate's lead and appropriated $1.5 million in emergency VA funding, we 
would have already covered the second shortfall just recently 
acknowledged by the White House, and the VA would have the funds to 
resume providing healthcare to our Nation's veterans.
  Instead, while the differing supplemental measures wait to be 
reconciled, more than 50,000 veterans await health care appointments, 
clinical positions across the VA are not being filled, VA hospitals are 
deferring critical equipment purchases, there are shortages of medical 
supplies in some locations and the number of veterans of the wars in 
Iraq and Afghanistan seeking services at VA hospitals continues to 
rise.
  The 2006 budget request was similarly short. What is even more 
troubling is that funding for veterans' health care beyond 2007 is cut 
significantly below the amount needed merely to account for inflation.
  In a recent letter to House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman 
Steve Buyer, the directors of nine Veterans' Service Organizations 
pointed out that VA employees in VA facilities are denying and 
rationing care to tens of thousands of fully eligible veterans, even 
those with service-connected disabilities, serious chronic illnesses 
and deteriorating health.
  These organizations also stated that veterans are being told they are 
not eligible for nursing home care when they are absolutely eligible by 
law. They are told that visits to VA and contract mental health 
practitioners must be limited to one visit per month irrespective of 
diagnosis or intensity of need. Veterans are told they cannot be seen 
for routine physical examinations or preventive visits because they are 
not ``authorized'' to receive such care. Veterans are told if they fail 
to appear for scheduled appointments, they will be dropped from VA 
rolls altogether and must re-apply for enrollment from the back of the 
line. While forcing untold numbers of veterans to wait unconscionable 
periods, VA denies the existence of a waiting list.
  Mr. Speaker, this is deplorable. If the VA cannot provide healthcare 
to the veterans currently needing care, how can they take care of the 
men and women coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan requiring care?
  I urge the Veterans' Affairs Committee and the House Leadership to 
take steps to address this problem so that we are not faced with 
similar problems in the future. Our veterans have served their country 
bravely and deserve better than this.

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