[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Pages 17977-17978]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND VETERANS AFFAIRS APPROPRIATIONS BILL

  Mr. REID. Madam President, today the Senate continues its 
consideration of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs 
appropriations bill. This appropriations bill is a modest step in the 
right direction. It provides resources and will address the veteran 
care backlog, including 770 new claims processors and 200 new appeals 
adjudicators. It expands medical treatment for veterans, and it 
provides State grants for extended care homes in rural areas, which is 
extremely important.
  I want to make sure one thing is understood and is very clear. If it 
had been up to Republicans, this legislation would have shortchanged 
America's veterans. Let's remember that Republicans' original 
appropriations bill for the VA was a far cry from this funding measure 
today. They ranted and raved, but in the process, would have cost the 
veterans $2 billion. The Republicans' bill included devastating 
sequester caps that would have underfunded the Veterans' Administration 
by billions of dollars. If Republicans had passed their bill, 70,000 
vets would not receive the care they deserve--70,000.
  The reason the Senate is considering this much improved 
appropriations legislation is because Democrats refused to go along 
with Republican efforts to underfund veterans and our middle class. 
Instead, Democrats held firm to stop devastating sequester cuts from 
hitting America's domestic priorities. Because we refused to let 
Republicans undermine care for our veterans, funding for the Veterans' 
Administration is more than $2 billion over what it would have been.
  Democrats refused to let congressional Republicans do what they 
always do: disregard the needs of the middle class--in this case middle 
class veterans--those people at home we so try to protect. In the 
aftermath of President Bush's two unpaid-for wars, Republicans have 
made little effort to meet the Nation's obligations to its veterans. 
The work that has been done in recent years to do a better job for our 
veterans, including wounded warriors legislation and on and on, are 
things that we on this side of the aisle proposed and passed.
  This is symptomatic of today's Republicans. They want to start and 
fund wars overseas, but when the bill comes--when the time comes to 
make good on the promises to our servicemembers, many Republicans are 
nowhere to be found.
  Taking care of our veterans is one of the prices of war. It is one of 
the costs of a robust defense that keeps America safe. To neglect that 
responsibility is callous, and some say immoral.
  We can do better by our Nation's veterans. This appropriations bill 
is a start. We still have a long way to go in meeting our commitments 
to the brave

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men and women who defend our country and have defended our country.

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