House Overwhelmingly Backs Obey Motion to Add $1.5 Billion to Veterans Healthcare Funding

7/26/2005

HOUSE OVERWHELMINGLY BACKS OBEY MOTION
TO ADD $1.5 BILLION TO VETERANS HEALTHCARE FUNDING

WASHINGTON, D.C. - After resisting for almost a month, House Republicans today finally agreed to provide $1.5 billion in emergency money to remedy a shortfall in veterans' health care funding this year by agreeing to a motion by Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey. Obey's motion passed the House this afternoon by an overwhelming bi-partisan vote, which stands in marked contrast to the series of party-line rejections by House Republicans of additional funding for veterans over the last four weeks.

"About a month ago, the VA announced that the veterans' healthcare system is over a billion dollars short this year," said Obey, the senior Democrat on the House Appropriation Committee. "While the Senate moved immediately to add additional money for the VA, until today House Republicans wouldn't commit to a plan to provide the money necessary to keep veterans' healthcare services funded."

"By overwhelmingly accepting my motion, the House today showed that we recognize the need for more money for the VA and will provide the $1.5 billion in emergency money that they need," concluded Obey. "With troops returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan every day, it's important that we make sure the VA lives up to its motto: To care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan."

http://obey.house.gov/HoR/WI07/Newsroom/Press+Releases/House+Backs+Obey+Veterans+Healthcare+Motion.htm