Reply #9: couple of brief statements:

[Pez]

04.03.03

Speech at the Jefferson Jackson Dinner

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"We need to do much more to deal with this backlog and get the veterans healthcare system ready for the hundreds of thousands of vets who will be returning from Iraq."

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also on 04.03.03

Supplemental Appropriations Act to Support Department of Defense Operations in Iraq for Fiscal Year 2003—Continued

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I am grateful to both Chairman Stevens and Ranking Member Byrd for providing $150 million to the Department of Veterans Affairs for health care services to veterans of the Iraq war. I worked with Senator Graham on an amendment to help pay for the health care of returning service members who are released from the military. We are not meeting our promises to our veterans. The VA has consistently received inadequate resources to meet rising medical costs and a growing demand for its health services. This funding crisis has forced the VA health system to resort to short-term fixes, such as discontinuing outreach activities in an effort to reduce enrollment and instituting new regulations that require the rationing of health care. This veteran's health care crisis has been exacerbated with the recent announcement that the VA would provide free medical services to all veterans of the Iraq war for 2 years. The additional funding included in the supplemental is crucial to insure that current veterans do not receive a further reduction in health benefits.

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by repeating the questions, hopefully it will eventually force the cads for BUSH INC. to answer them.