Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2008

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS AFFAIRS AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATION ACT -- (Senate - September 07, 2007)

Mr. FEINGOLD. Mr. President, I am pleased to support the fiscal year 2008 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriation Act. The bill includes funding for critical renovations and repairs to military facilities and military family housing. The brave men and women of our Armed Forces are serving honorably under intense strains in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. We must take care of them and their families while they serve and when they return. This bill reverses a disturbing trend in recent years by finally providing sufficient funds to care for our Nation's veterans. I hope that we will have the chance soon to vote for a conference report reflecting the priorities in this bill so that there will be no delay--as there has been in recent years--in getting the Department of Veterans Affairs urgently needed funds. And I will continue working to make sure that this bill is only the beginning of a lasting commitment to providing veterans the best health care and benefits available.

I was particularly pleased that the Senate adopted my amendment requiring that the Government Accountability Office, GAO, study how the VA can best care for the mental health needs of female veterans. I decided to introduce this amendment after hearing concerns directly from Wisconsin veterans about insufficient mental health services for women. The number of women in the Armed Forces has grown rapidly, as has their exposure to combat. While the VA has taken important steps to establish services for women, there is little data on how VA mental health care funds are being used to address the needs of women. Indeed, mental health experts recently testified before the Congress that the VA does not have the capacity to address the needs of women veterans. This study will help ensure that the Veterans Administration dedicates the funds needed to care for women veterans.

I was pleased to support Senator Brown's amendment to ensure that the Veterans Administration abides by existing law which prohibits unnecessary studies on the privatization of VA functions and requires public-private competitions before outsourcing government jobs. This bill also includes additional funds for the Beneficiary Travel Program, an important VA program that benefits numerous Wisconsin veterans who live far from VA medical facilities.

The bill includes $15 million for funding for gulf war illnesses research. I strongly support research into treatments for these debilitating illnesses. Nearly 200,000 gulf war veterans--one in four of those who served--suffer from chronic multisymptom illness as a result of serving in the gulf, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs most recent study. These illnesses combine debilitating headaches, widespread muscle and joint pain, severe fatigue, cognitive problems, and other abnormalities. Current and future American military forces, as well as civilians, are also at risk of similar exposure.

Yet according to members of the Research Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans Illnesses, of all the money spent on research in this area--over $300 million over the past 12 years--only two studies have been done on treatments. It is time to accept that these are serious neurological illnesses and shift research to the identification of treatments. A promising pilot program to identify treatments and diagnostic tests was initiated last year by the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program. I call on the Department to dedicate the funds appropriated in this act to the identification of treatments for these illnesses.

I understand that concerns have been expressed about the Veterans Administration leasing property at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Facility to private enterprises that are inappropriate for the hallowed grounds of a soldier's home. I supported Senator DeMint's unsuccessful amendment to delete language from the bill prohibiting the VA from leasing excess property at the West Los Angeles medical facility under any circumstances because I do not believe that this language is in the best interests of veterans.

The GAO has reported that, historically, the VA has spent as many as 1 in 4 of its health care dollars on maintaining its facilities and land, including properties that are no longer fit for the provision of medical services and are no longer in use. In order to better capitalize on its assets, the VA has conducted a nationwide review and prepared a plan to make the best use of its property. This plan is supported by a broad coalition of veterans service organizations, and Congress should take care before carving out exceptions to this policy. This does not mean, however, that just any lease will do. The VA must incorporate the views of local veterans groups whenever it makes decisions about how to utilize its property and any lease must preserve the integrity of the VA grounds.

This bill includes over $1 billion for National Guard and Reserve construction. For too long, the needs of the National Guard and Reserve have not been adequately funded even while their responsibilities at home and abroad have grown exponentially. This bill increases funds for the National Guard and Reserve commensurate with their growing responsibilities.

I am concerned that the Department of Defense, according to the report of the Senate Appropriations Committee, has ``yet to provide a comprehensive plan detailing the scope and cost of the total military construction requirement'' associated with the increase in end strength of the Army and Marine Corps. Nor has the Defense Department properly accounted for the tremendous increase in the cost of realigning its force structure. And I am concerned that the Defense Department is proceeding with major new construction at Camp Lemonier in Djibouti even before the new AFRICOM commander has been confirmed, thereby undermining the stated goal of creating a more cohesive and coordinated approach to security in Africa. As chairman of the Subcommittee on African Affairs of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I am committed to ongoing oversight of the role of our Armed Forces in the overall U.S. strategy towards the African continent.

In conclusion, I am pleased that the Senate voted today to support the needs of members of the Armed Forces, the Reserves, veterans and their families. They have served our Nation selflessly and deserve our enduring support.

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