[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Page 22268]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



  SENATE RESOLUTION 179--TO EXPRESS THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING 
         ENSURING QUALITY HEALTHCARE FOR OUR NATION'S VETERANS

  Mr. BOND submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs:

                              S. Res. 179

       Whereas, President George W. Bush and the United States 
     Senate designated this week, November 11 through November 17, 
     2001, as National Veterans Awareness Week.
       Whereas, the United States owes a great debt of gratitude 
     to the veterans who have made untold sacrifices for our 
     Nation;
       Whereas, it is the policy of the United States to provide 
     quality healthcare to veterans who have served our Nation in 
     times of peace and war;
       Whereas, our Nation's government has an obligation to 
     ensure that veterans receive quality healthcare each and 
     every day of their lives and to protect them from abuse and 
     neglect;
       Whereas, the Department of Veterans Affairs has projected a 
     significant increase in the demand for long-term healthcare 
     for veterans over the next decade;
       Whereas, the Department of Veterans Affairs has projected 
     the number of veterans age 85 and older will increase 
     threefold, reaching nearly 1.3 million by 2010;
       Whereas, the prevalence of chronic health conditions and 
     disabilities increases markedly at advanced age;
       Whereas, the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits 
     Act of 1999, required that the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     provided long-term healthcare to eligible veterans
       Whereas, President George W. Bush issued an executive order 
     creating a Presidential Task Force to improve healthcare for 
     veterans and military retirees;
       Whereas, the General Accounting Office has issued a report 
     finding that the Department of Veterans Affairs cannot be 
     assured that all veterans will receive care in private 
     nursing facilities that meets the standards established by 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs;
       Whereas, the General Accounting Office has found that the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs needs to strengthen its 
     oversight of veterans placed in private nursing facilities;
       Whereas, the Inspector General for the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs has reported since 1994 about issues that 
     the Department of Veterans Affairs needs to address to 
     improve the care of veterans in private nursing facilities;
       Whereas, the Inspector General for the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs has reported that at least one veteran died 
     after being lost to the Department of Veterans Affairs 
     oversight;
       Whereas, the death of even one veteran due to substandard 
     care is unacceptable: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) the Senate urges the Secretary of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs to work hand-in-hand with the Secretary of 
     the Department of Health and Human Services and the 
     Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
     Services, to improve coordination among and between these 
     agencies to provide quality healthcare for the men and women 
     who have served in uniform, and specifically those who 
     require long-term care; and
       (2) the President and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     should act promptly and deliberately to protect veterans from 
     the dangers of abuse and neglect and to ensure that they 
     receive the highest quality of long-term healthcare.

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