One of the most important responsibilities I have as a Member of the United States Congress is to ensure adequate support for and appreciation of our nation's veterans. Freedom and responsibility are intertwined.  The most significant demonstration of this responsibility for others has been shown by the bravery, courage and sacrifice of America's veterans.  To properly honor those who have served this great country, we must take action in many ways - including the full and proper funding of veterans benefits, especially veteran's healthcare. 

This patriotic requirement is met willingly by most Members of Congress who, like me, revere veterans and want to provide support and resources for them since they provided such valiant service to our great nation.

When we discuss an important issue that affects so many people's lives, I believe political partisanship should be put aside. Unfortunately, some folks have made veterans benefits the subject of political allegations that are simply not true. These misrepresentations and erroneous figures do not belong in this serious policy discussion.

Whether you have heard this misinformation or not, the facts about the Fiscal Year 2004 Congressional Budget are clear:

*The budget includes $63.8 billion for veterans' programs - an INCREASE of $6.2 billion (10.7%) from the Fiscal Year 2003 budget.

* The budget provides $33.8 billion - an 8.9% INCREASE - in compensation, pensions and other Veterans' entitlement programs. 

*Since 1998, Veteran's medical care spending has INCREASED 58%, for an average growth of 7.9% each year.

The budget will allow the VA to deliver comprehensive healthcare services to over 4.5 million veterans and train over 80,000 doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

The allegations that the House-passed Budget resolution will cut veteran's benefits by $14 billion are absolutely false.  In fact, the Republican Congress has substantially increased veteran's benefits each of the nine years that I have served in Congress. 

Abraham Lincoln expressed my profound appreciation for America's veterans when he said, "the mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart....should swell into a mighty chorus of remembrance, gratitude and rededication."

As America pauses on Monday to remember the awesome sacrifices of our fallen heroes, we must rededicate ourselves to the "sacred trust" of caring for our veterans who we owe for preserving our freedom.