Senator Lincoln Fights to Improve Veterans' Health Care, Congressman Boozman Just Votes No

Press Release

Senator Blanche Lincoln has frequently been recognized by veterans groups as a champion for American fighting men and women while they are on the battlefield and after they return home. Today, she visited the Fayetteville Veterans Home and Fayetteville Veterans Hospital, two state-of-the-art veterans facilities in Arkansas that have benefited from her advocacy over the years.

In addition to securing funds for the veterans facilities in Fayetteville and across the state, Lincoln has worked to make health care more affordable by fighting to prohibit increases in TRICARE premiums, deductibles and copayments. She also supported the creation of VA's Office of Rural Health to improve health care and expand access for veterans in rural Arkansas. And she supported Local Community Based Outpatient Clinics as a source for rural veterans to get the help and care they need and lessen the travel time they would need to see a doctor in person.

By contrast, Congressman John Boozman has spent a decade in Washington voting against health care funding for Veterans. On at least nine occasions, the five-term congressman opposed funding for Veterans' health care and other benefits.

"Senator Lincoln has always stood up for Arkansas Veterans and their families," said COL (Ret) Mike Ross, the Former Commander of the 39th Infantry Brigade and an Iraqi war veteran who is now serving as veterans coordinator for the Lincoln campaign. "The same cannot be said for Congressman Boozman, who talks about helping veterans, but when it comes time to take action, he votes against critical funds for Veterans' health care. Arkansas Veterans and their families have a dependable ally in Senator Lincoln."

For her efforts on behalf of Arkansas's military service members, veterans, and their families, Lincoln has been awarded the following honors: 2008 G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery Eagle Award from the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States (EANGUS); 2009 Award of Merit from the Military Coalition; 2009 National Legislative Advocacy Award from the Association of the United States Navy; 2009 Minuteman of the Year Award from the Reserve Officers Association (ROA); and the 2010 Colonel Arthur T. Marix Congressional Leadership Award from the Military Officers Association of America.

Boozman Opposed Budget that Included Historic Increase in Veterans' Health Care Funding. In 2007, Boozman voted against the fiscal year 2008 budget conference report that included what was then the "largest increase ever provided" in veterans' medical care funding. [Overview of FY2008 Budget Conference Agreement, 5/16/2007; House Vote #377, 5/17/2007]

Boozman Opposed $1.7 Billion For Veterans' Programs, Including Health Care Funding. In 2007, Boozman voted against a supplemental appropriations bill that provided $1.7 billion for veterans' programs, including $1.3 billion for veterans' health programs and $380 million for the VA. The bill provided $2.8 billion for military health care costs and funds to ensure servicemembers don't have to pay extra out-of-pocket payments. In addition, the bill included $20 million for improvements to Walter Reed. [House Vote #186, 3/23/2007]

Boozman Opposed Expanding TRICARE to Thousands of National Guard & Reserve Volunteers. In 2005, Boozman voted against a motion that would recommit the Defense Authorization bill to the House Armed Services Committee with instructions to include language that would extend access to the military's TRICARE health insurance program to all reservists and National Guard members. [House Vote #221, 5/25/2005]

Boozman Opposed $53 Million Boost for Veterans Health Care & Benefits. In 2005, Boozman voted against an amendment to add $53 million for veterans' health care and other benefits, offset by a 9 percent cut to BRAC. [House Vote #224, 5/26/2005]

Boozman Opposed $100 Million for Military Health Care. In 2005, Boozman voted against a motion to recommit the Supplemental Appropriations bill to the Appropriations Committee with instructions to add language that would increase funding for military health care by $100 million and for transitional job training for military personnel by $50 million. [House Vote #76, 3/16/2005]

Boozman Voted Against $2.9 Billion For Veterans' Health Care. In 2005, Boozman voted against an amendment to add $2.9 billion for veterans' health care programs to the Fiscal 2006 budget resolution. [House Vote #82, 3/17/2005]

Boozman Voted Against $1.8 Billion For Veterans' Health Care. In 2003, Boozman voted to adopt the rule on the VA-HUD appropriations bill that denied a boost of $1.8 billion for veterans' health care programs that advocates had been seeking. [House Vote #450, 7/25/2003; Congressional Quarterly, 7/25/2003]

Boozman Voted Against Additional $1.3 Billion For Veterans' Health Care. In 2003, Boozman voted against providing an additional $1.3 billion for veterans' health care in the Supplemental Bill. [House Vote #600, 10/31/2003]

Boozman Voted Against Additional Funding for Veterans' Health Care. In 2002, Boozman voted against a proposal to provide additional funding for veterans' health care under the Fiscal 2003 Continuing Appropriations bill. [House Vote #473, 11/13/2002]

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