U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) called on the Administration to seek adequate funding to allow veterans to get the care and medications they need at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) without raising co-payments or imposing enrollment fees. The administration will submit its budget request to Congress on Feb.6.

"In the fiscal year 2005, veterans were turned away because of the Administration's cost-cutting decision to limit their access to VA hospitals, clinics and medications," Rahall said. "It's time we take the healthcare of our nation's heroes off of the budgetary chopping block."

Data from the Department of Veteran Affairs show that more than 260,000 veterans applied to receive health care at the VA in 2005 but were turned away. This includes 2,550 veterans in West Virginia.

"Everyone in Washington proclaims to be a friend of our veterans, but over the last few years we have seen that many of the folks in the Republican leadership are content with cutting corners on our veterans and short-changing veterans' services," Rahall said

In the past year, the GOP leadership has fired its Veterans Affairs Committee chairman because he was too willing to advocate for increased veterans funding. In addition, Republican leaders initially rejected Democratic attempts to make up a $1.3 billion budget shortfall at the VA. Finally, the White House and GOP Congressional leaders heeded bipartisan calls for increased veterans funding and passed $2 billion in funding to address the acute shortfall in the VA budget.

"The reality of this is that any cut in funding means a cut in care for our veterans," Rahall said. "Those who have answered the call to duty should be able to rely on the promises of the nation for which they fought. We must live up to our promise and provide needed health care benefits to our returning veterans."