[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 51 (Wednesday, May 3, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H1983-H1984]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             COSPONSOR H.R. 4992, PUT VETERANS' NEEDS FIRST

  (Mrs. KELLY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. KELLY. Mr. Speaker, we must always keep the promises we have 
made to our veterans who have dedicated themselves to faithfully 
serving our country. However, under current law, veterans are being 
prohibited from using Medicare coverage at local VA hospitals. They can 
only use Medicare at non-VA hospitals, and they lose out on the 
personalized care they prefer to receive at VA hospitals. This forces

[[Page H1984]]

veterans to choose between cost and comfort. That is not the way our 
veterans should be treated.
  I have introduced the Veterans Medicare Assistance Act to correct 
this problem. Our laws should be working for veterans, not against 
them. I urge my colleagues to join me in this effort to enable our 
veterans to use their Medicare benefits to help them pay their bills at 
VA hospitals.
  Most veterans pay into Medicare for most of their lives. This law 
should not prohibit them from using those Medicare benefits at VA 
hospitals later on in their lives. Cosponsor H.R. 4992 and show our 
veterans that we are putting their needs first.
  We need to work together in Congress to enhance health care options 
for our veterans, not take them away.

                          ____________________