[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21166]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



DEPARTMENTS OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT. AND 
             INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2000

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 8, 1999

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2684) making 
     appropriations for the Department of Veteran Affairs and 
     Housing and Urban Development, and for sundry independent 
     agencies, boards, commissions, corporations, and offices for 
     the fiscal year ending September 30, 2000, and for other 
     purposes:

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Chairman, as the daughter of a World War II veteran, 
I rise in support of the Filner amendment to add $6 million in 
emergency spending to help solve the benefit claim problems that have 
plagued our veterans.
  This amendment would provide funds to hire an additional 250 
employees to reduce the growing backlog and waiting time for 
adjudication of benefit claims. Designation of these funds as emergency 
would make it possible to efficiently get vital health care of hundreds 
of thousands of veterans without cutting other essential programs.
  This amendment is about national priorities. Our veterans must not be 
left grapping with illnesses, unpaid bills, and looming expenses 
because their claims are tied up in red tape.
  Our nation owes our veterans a tremendous debt. These courageous men 
and women sacrificed everything--whether in World War I, World War II, 
Korea, Vietnam, or the Gulf War--to ensure the freedom and opportunity 
that we so often take for granted. We must repay our veterans for the 
tremendous burdens that they bore and the sacrifices that they made to 
bring us peace and prosperity.
  I urge my colleagues to fulfill our commitments to our veterans. Vote 
for $6 million in emergency funds to reduce the backlog of veterans' 
benefit claims. Vote for the Filner amendment.

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