Emergency Spending to Support a VA Budget Shortfall

EMERGENCY SPENDING TO SUPPORT A VA BUDGET SHORTFALL -- (Extensions of Remarks - July 01, 2005)

SPEECH OF HON. RANDY ``DUKE'' CUNNINGHAM OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 2005

* Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. Speaker, it has been recently reported by the Department of Veterans Affairs that the veterans healthcare system will have $1 billion deficit at the end of FY 05.

* I, like many other Members of Congress, am extremely concerned regarding this recent disclosure. As we continue to fight the Global war on terror and in Operation Iraqi Freedom, we need to ensure that the full range of veterans medical services are available for our returning veterans and those that have served before them. Our veterans are not served by taking funds from the VA capital investment account. These funds are vital to the purchase of new equipment and the maintenance and upkeep of VA facilities. I feel that these funds are critical to the total healthcare of a veteran. It is important that we find the funding necessary to address this shortfall and ensure that this does not occur again.

* Mr. Speaker, I believe we must provide funding to makeup for the shortfall in veterans healthcare, and I urge you to work with our colleagues on the Appropriations and Veterans' Affairs Committees to move legislation forward as soon as possible to address this shortfall.

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