Veterans Need Help Now Says DavisJune 28, 2005

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis today gave his support to an effort by House Democrats to pass an emergency amendment to add $1 billion to the VA budget to help with the shortfall. The amendment, defeated by the majority in a procedural motion, was to be attached to the Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill.

"How can we continue to shortchange our veterans," Davis said. "It is deplorable that we aren't meeting our moral obligation to the growing number of veterans, especially as our soldiers return from Iraq and Afghanistan."

On June 23rd, the Bush Administration acknowledged that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) needs an additional one billion dollars this year to cover the health care needs of our country's veterans, including approximately 86,000 veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Every major veterans group, including the American Legion, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Disabled American Veterans, condemned this billion-dollar shortfall and predicted it could seriously harm the quality and availability of veterans' health care.