Increase the Funding for VA Budget

INCREASE THE FUNDING FOR THE VA BUDGET -- (House of Representatives - June 29, 2005)

(Mr. FILNER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, the Republicans started off their 1 minutes today, as the President did last night, by saying it is time to show the troops how much we care. Show them how much we care, except when they come home!

How do we show how much we care?

We have cut the VA budget. The VA budget that was just announced is $1 billion short this year, $2.5 billion short next year.

Our troops come back with post-traumatic stress disorder, and can get no services. They come back with dental problems, and have to wait a year for an appointment. That is how much we show how much we support our troops!

Mr. Speaker, the Democrats tried through this whole appropriations process to raise the amount of money for our veterans. I asked for $3 billion, which would have made up for this shortfall. I was ruled out of order.

Do my colleagues know what is out of order, Mr. Speaker? This administration is out of order. This Congress is out of order.

We have to show that we do support our troops by giving them the support they need when they come home to the veterans health system. We are not doing that today. Let us hope that we can add this money as the appropriations process proceeds.

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