[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 51 (Friday, March 23, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H2960]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   DEMOCRATS ADDRESS VETERANS' HEALTH CARE IN IRAQ ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

  (Mrs. CHRISTENSEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, we owe our Nation's freedom and 
quality of life to America's veterans. These brave men and women left 
their families behind and risk their lives for us and their country. 
Our government promised to take care of them when they returned home; 
this is a promise we simply must not break.
  Today, the House has an opportunity to live up to these promises. The 
emergency supplemental bill provides $1.7 billion more than the 
President's request to fund veterans' health care needs. The bill 
provides $550 million to address the maintenance backlog at VA health 
care facilities, preventing situations like the one at Walter Reed. 
$250 million for medical administration to ensure sufficient personnel 
to maintain a high level of service for the rising number of veterans. 
$100 million to allow the VA to contract with private mental health 
care providers to offer veterans timely mental health care. And $62 
million to speed up claims processing for returning veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, those who put their lives on the line for our country 
deserve not only our respect, but also the best medical care we can 
provide. This bill will ensure that they receive just that, while 
beginning a process to bring our troops home.

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