[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 109 (Tuesday, September 6, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1751]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


      CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2361, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
       ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006

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                               speech of

                            HON. DAVID SCOTT

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 28, 2005

  Mr. SCOTT of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, as a strong supporter of our 
Nation's veterans, I support the additional $1.5 billion provided in 
the FY 2006 Interior Appropriations bill that addresses the current 
shortfall in funding for veterans' health care. These funds are 
urgently needed to care for troops returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, 
as well as the heroes from former conflicts who rely upon the VA for 
their health care. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, 
currently, there are 24.8 million veterans of the U.S. armed services. 
They served their country in one of the military branches--Army, Navy, 
Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard--or in one of many smaller 
groups that supported the military services, primarily during World War 
II.
  Approximately 769,000 veterans live in Georgia serving in every major 
conflict and during peacetime. About a quarter of the nation's 
population, approximately 70 million people, are potentially eligible 
for VA benefits and services because they are veterans, family members 
or survivors of veterans. The benefits include: medical care, payments 
to compensate for disabilities suffered during military service, 
rehabilitation and employment assistance, pensions to low-income 
disabled veterans, guarantees on loans to help veterans buy homes, 
financial aid to help them attend school, burial in a national cemetery 
and special headstones or markers for their gravesites.
  Slightly less than half of all Americans who ever served during 
wartime in our country's history are alive today, and nearly 80 percent 
of today's veterans served during a war or an official period of 
conflict. There are widows and children of veterans of the Civil War 
and the Indian War of the last century who still receive VA benefits. 
The largest group of veterans fought in World War II. Approximately 
550,000 Georgia veterans served during wartime during either World War 
II, the Korean conflict, during the Vietnam era or during the Gulf War. 
These veterans deserve our support especially due to the extraordinary 
sacrifices and contributions that they have made so that peace and 
freedom could exist around the world.
  I also encourage Congress to provide much needed additional funding 
for veterans' health care in FY 2006 so that the VA's resources are 
sufficient to meet the increased demand for its services from our 
Nation's veterans and their families. It is critical that at all times, 
but particularly during a time of war, the quality of care for veterans 
must be a clear and unmistakable priority. We must fulfill our 
commitment to those who helped build America's strength and security. 
Our veterans should not have to wait any longer for the benefits they 
deserve.

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