[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 14884]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            REPUBLICAN REFUSAL TO FUND VETERANS HEALTH CARE

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, America's veterans are still waiting. It 
has been a week now since the Department of Veterans Affairs finally 
admitted that veterans health care funding was short $1 billion. As a 
result of that shortfall, VA facilities around the country can no 
longer schedule appointments for new veterans.
  House Republicans, however, do not seem to be too concerned. 
Democrats have tried repeatedly over the last week to offer amendments 
that would provide the VA the $1 billion so veterans can get the 
services they were promised, but Republicans have shot down every 
effort to increase funding.
  Last week, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards) tried to offer an 
amendment to the Labor-HHS bill to eliminate the Republican VA funding 
shortfall, but the Republican majority refused to allow a vote. Then, 
yesterday the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards) wanted to offer the 
amendment to the Transportation spending bill, and once again, 
Republicans refused to allow a vote.
  Mr. Speaker, this House should not adjourn for the 4th of July recess 
until we honor our promise to our veterans.

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