[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21822]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. TAMMY BALDWIN

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 10, 2003

  Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall 456, final passage of H.R. 
2861, the FY04 VA-HUD and Independent Agencies Appropriations bill, I 
was recorded as voting ``yea.'' I oppose this bill and intended to vote 
``nay.'' This bill significantly underfunds veterans' health care. Our 
veterans' health care system is in crisis with an average of 200,000 
veterans waiting six months or more for an appointment at Veterans 
Administration hospitals. The funding in this bill is clearly 
inadequate to meet the needs of our veterans. We must deliver the 
quality health care that was promised to those who have served to 
protect American security around the world.

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