September 10, 2009
Healthcare Reform Could Hurt Veterans
For more information, contact: Brian Lawrence, (202) 225-3527
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Steve Buyer released the following statement in response to President Obama’s address last night to a joint session of Congress on healthcare reform.
“Once again, President Obama has attempted to ease the concerns of millions of American veterans by saying that nothing in the national healthcare reform legislation would change the coverage they have,” said Buyer who serves as the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. “What the President fails to say, and continues to ignore, is that there are a number of reasons for veterans to be deeply concerned about how national healthcare reform could adversely affect them and their families.”
“The most pressing issue is that in its current form, H.R. 3200 could result in bureaucratic determinations that veterans enrolled in VA healthcare do not meet acceptable coverage standards, exposing them to a new 2.5 percent punitive individual income tax. This is just one of several provisions in the bill that could harm veterans.”
During a joint House and Senate hearing today on the legislative priorities of the American Legion, Buyer thanked the 3 million member organization for its advocacy on correcting provisions adverse to veterans within H.R. 3200.
“I share many of the same policy concerns as the Legion with regard to healthcare reform, and I commend you for standing up to ensure nothing in the bill will have a negative impact on veterans. Much remains to be done and your voices will be critical in the weeks ahead.”
“While I have received tentative support for fixing these problems from the Chairman Waxman, I will continue to hold the majority leadership accountable, until veterans see the changes to the legislation that they deserve and expect.”
Click on the links below to view the remaining amendments:
Pending Amendments to H.R. 3200
Accepted Amendments to H.R. 3200
For more news from House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Republicans, please go to:
http://republicans.veterans.house.gov
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