[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Pages 21857-21858]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]





                FISCAL YEAR 2000 VA HEALTH CARE FUNDING

  Mr. CONRAD. Mr. President, today I was informed of the concern of two 
North Dakotans who have distinguished themselves on behalf of veterans 
and their families regarding FY' 2000 funding for VA medical care-
incoming National Commander of the Disabled Veterans of America Michael 
Dobmeier of Grand Forks, North Dakota and Lorraine Frier, National 
President of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Veterans of Foreign Wars of 
West Fargo. Let me take this opportunity to warmly congratulate Mike 
and Lorraine on their recent election to these important national 
offices, and to thank them for their many years of distinguished 
service to our country.
  Yesterday, the Senate VA-HUD Subcommittee reported an appropriations 
measure for the Department of Veterans Affairs that will provide $18.4 
billion for medical care for veterans. This figure is $1.1 billion 
above the Administration's budget request of $17.3 billion earlier this 
year, however, more than $600 below House appropriations recommendation 
of $1.7 billion for veterans medical care. The House action would 
increase VA medical care funding to $19 billion.
  While the House action does not meet the recommendations from the 
Independent Budget, Fiscal Year 2000 of $20.2 billion, the funding 
level does come closer to ensuring that the VA may not have to curtail 
medical services, close community-based clinics or layoff critical 
health care workers. Earlier this week, the Veterans of Foreign Wars 
warned that unless the Senate approves funding close to the House level 
of $19 billion, ``scores of community-based clinics will have to be 
closed, veterans will wait longer for care and some 8,500 health care 
workers laid off''.
   Mr. President, the crisis in funding for veterans medical care is 
shameful, particularly in light of the strong economic news that we 
have received almost daily over the past few months. How can a nation 
that has experienced such strong economic growth during the past few 
years, witnessed stock market growth beyond all expectations and 
discussed how to spend the Federal surplus, deny veterans the very best 
health care. How can we justify making veterans wait for months for 
specialized health care, closing outpatient clinics or reducing VA 
staffing levels. In my state of North Dakota, we have been working for 
several years to secure funding for $10 million in critical patient 
privacy and environmental improvements at the Fargo VA Medical Center--
a medical center more than 70 years old.
  Earlier this year when the Senate, during consideration of the budget 
resolution, failed to increase funding for VA medical care as 
recommended in the Independent Budget, Senator Dorgan and I introduced 
legislation, S. 1022, to authorize an emergency appropriation of $1.7 
billion, above the Administration request, for veterans health care. In 
view of VA-HUD Subcommittee action in the Senate this week, we must 
work together to find additional funding for VA health care to bring 
that level closer to the recommended level in the Independent

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Budget. We must do better for our veterans; we can do no less for the 
sacrifices they and their families have made on our behalf.

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