[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 18607]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                ADMINISTRATION FALLS SHORT ON VA FUNDING

  (Mr. STEARNS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, the Clinton administration proposed a 
dismal VA medical care budget earlier this year. It is shortchanging 
our veterans.
  We have heard from VA officials that an additional $1.1 billion is 
needed just to maintain current service levels.
  Deep concerns regarding the administration's proposal for veterans' 
medical care led our Committee on Veterans' Affairs to call for an 
additional $1.7 billion in funding for the upcoming fiscal year. The 
new funding being suggested by the Vice President over the weekend will 
not cover the needs of our veterans.
  He proposed an additional $900 million for medical care. But based 
upon the administration's own figures, the cost for pay increases and 
inflation alone will cost $900 million.
  The administration's budget fails to cover the costs of treating 
hepatitis C, a ``silent epidemic'' afflicting many veterans, and fails 
to cover the cost of emergency care.
  Mr. Speaker, we need to provide for our veterans. It is a moral 
obligation.

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