VA cuts come one day after denial of healthcare for 9/11 responders.
Yesterday, members of the Senate approved the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill (MilCon-VA). The main focus of the bill was originally intended to give a much needed boost to care for veterans. But like most legislation that makes its way through the house, the MilCon-VA bill in it’s current form will cost taxpayers more while providing $857 million less for veterans benefits and programs. Opponents of the bill were vocal in their disgust for the GOP majority and their continued efforts to underfund VA programs. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) addressed the house just before the vote to explain the shortfalls of the proposed bill.
“We made a sacred commitment to our veterans when we sent them to war that we would do whatever it takes it take care of them when they returned, this bill does nothing to address that promise. Disappointingly, this bill takes an ax to needed funding for the VA, underfunding medical care by over $500 million dollars, which is equal to the cost of providing care for more than 60,000 veterans.”The bill also includes more than $340 million to purchase an additional missile program and NATO actions, which will, in no way, benefit wounded veterans. The passage of the MilCon-VA Appropriations Bill comes one day after Congress allowed the Zadroga Act to expire, which will leave more than 70,000 victims and first responders of the 9/11 attacks with no long term health benefits Following Manchin’s statement, Senator John Tester (D-MT) then took to the floor and directly attacked the character of his fellow Senators who hide behind the rhetoric of patriotism and love for the military while short-changing soldiers and their families when they return from deployment.
“Veterans day is six weeks from now. Many of the folks in this chamber will go back to their home states, will be attending ceremonies and taking photos of men and women that are in uniform and give speeches and talk about our profound gratitude to the veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much for this country. But there is one thing they won’t do, and that is to give the VA the resources it needs to serve the men and women who serve this country in the military.”Watch the video of Tester’s speech below:
