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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today Congresswoman Lois Capps applauded the House passage of Fiscal Year 2008 Mililtary Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, H.R. 2642. This bipartisan legislation provides the largest increase in funding for veterans health care in the Veterans Administration’s 77 year history. This historic funding increase will provide much needed resources for critical medical services including mental health, PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury. These resources will also be used to improve the integrity and efficiency of the Veterans Administration by reducing bureaucratic red-tape and increasing access to services including quality medical care.
“I am pleased that Congress is acting responsibly to care for our servicemen and women, their families, and our veterans,” said Capps a member of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee. “This legislation provides a historic increase in the resources provided to support those who have sacrificed so much in the service of our country. Given that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are creating another generation of veterans who will need our care, we must continue to insist that sufficient funding is dedicated to providing them with the quality health care they have so heroically earned. All of us read about the appalling conditions at Walter Reed and the bureaucratic nightmares facing so many of our wounded veterans. This cannot continue and we cannot continue to shortchange our servicemen and women. This legislation is an important step in honoring their sacrifice by improving the quality of their care.”
Congresswoman Capps has been a long time advocate for providing additional resources for veterans, particularly veterans health care. Earlier this year she led a delegation of Members from the Women’s Caucus in a tour of the facilities at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and discussed the need for reform and additional resources to improve military health care for military service personnel and veterans.
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Pictured above: (center) Congresswoman Capps meets with Central Coast firefighters to discuss emergency preparedness.
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