[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 143 (Wednesday, September 10, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1760]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RURAL VETERANS ACCESS TO CARE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 9, 2008

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I stand in support of our 
veterans and in support of H.R. 1527, the Rural Veterans Access to Care 
Act by my colleague from Kansas, Representative Jerry Moran and the 
Members of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.
  Ladies and gentlemen, as we come upon the anniversary II of that 
fateful day in September this Thursday, it is important to remember our 
men and women currently serving and our veterans who have returned 
home.


                               WAR COSTS

  Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States 
has initiated three military operations:
  Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) covering Afghanistan and other 
Global War on Terror (GWOT) operations ranging from the Philippines to 
Djibouti that began immediately after the 9/11 attacks and continues;
  Operation Noble Eagle (ONE) providing enhanced security for U.S. 
military bases and other homeland security that was launched in 
response to the attacks and continues at a modest level; and
  Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) that began in the fall of 2002 with the 
buildup of troops for the March 2003 invasion of Iraq and continues 
with counter-insurgency and stability operations.
  According to CRS estimates, with enactment of the FY2008 Supplemental 
and FY2009 Bridge Fund on June 30, 2008, a total of about $859 billion 
has been approved for military operations, base security, 
reconstruction, foreign aid, embassy costs, and veterans' health care 
for the three operations initiated since the 9/11 attacks.
  This $859 billion total covers all war-related appropriations from 
FY2001 through part of FY2009 in supplementals, regular appropriations, 
and continuing resolutions.
  Of that total, CRS estimates that Iraq will receive about $653 
billion (76 percent), OEF about $172 billion (20 percent), and enhanced 
base security about $28 billion (3 percent), with about $5 billion that 
CRS cannot allocate (1 percent) or readily determine where it was 
allocated.
  As of April 2008, DOD's monthly obligations for contracts and pay 
averaged about $12.1 billion, including $9.8 billion for Iraq, and $2.3 
billion for Afghanistan.
  The recently enacted FY2008 Supplemental (H.R. 2642/P.L. 110-252) 
includes a total of about $160 billion for war costs for the Department 
of Defense (DOD), State/USAID and Veterans Administration medical 
programs for the rest of FY2008 and part of FY2009.
  In February 2008, the Congressional Budget Office projected that 
additional war costs from FY2009 through FY2018 could range from $440 
billion, if troop levels fell to 30,000 by 2010, $1.0 trillion, if 
troop levels fell to 75,000 by about 2013. Under these scenarios, CBO 
projects that funding for Iraq, Afghanistan and the GWOT could reach 
from about $1.1 trillion to about $1.7 tri1lon for FY2001-FY2018.
  As of August 2008 in the Marine Corps alone we have lost over 1,060 
young men and women give the ultimate sacrifice for our country, (OIF 
1,001 and OEF 59). This does not even include our men and women in the 
Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard.
  With all that we are spending to send our armed forces overseas, we 
need to be keeping in mind what they will need when they return.


                               HEALTHCARE

  It is our duty to take care of those who have risked life and limb to 
secure our freedom and the freedom of others around the world. The 
World Health Organization ranked the U.S. health care system 37th in 
the world for quality and 55th for fairness. We are the only 
industrialized country that does not have universal health care.
  That is why I have supported Congressman John Conyer's Universal 
Healthcare legislation (H.R. 676). We need all Americans--parents, 
children, veterans--to receive healthcare. H.R. 1527 ensures this kind 
of access to care for our Rural Veteran's and I can only hope that we 
continue to look at this type of legislation for everyone in this great 
Nation.


                             TEXAS Veterans

  In Texas, we have the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) that was 
created in 1927. We have 9 medical centers and two regional centers 
with one in my great city of Houston, TX and one in Waco, TX. The Waco 
Regional Office serves over 942,000 veterans, as well as their family 
members, in the 164-county area that comprises the northern two-thirds 
of Texas. Each year, they process more than $1.9 billion in VA benefit 
payments are issued to Texas veterans.
  This is why I fought to get $1 million to Riverside Hospital in 
Houston to help our veteran's with their health care and their mental 
health issues. At this historic African-American hospital they work 
with our veteran's and assist with care for Post-traumatic stress 
disorder (PTSD).
  Our Veteran's in our urban and rural areas deserve the best care we 
can give. We should not hesitate to care for the men and women who 
fought so courageously for us.


                               CONCLUSION

  We are facing rising food, gas, and energy costs. Our housing markets 
are still reeling and we are at high levels of unemployment. We must 
ensure that the Securities markets are secure and able to withstand our 
current economic climate. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support 
this important legislation.

                          ____________________