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Press Room: Press Releases

April 6, 2001

ROCKEFELLER COSPONSORS SUCCESSFUL AMENDMENT TO FUND VETERANS HEALTH CARE

- Senate approves $1.7 billion increase over President's proposal for veterans -

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the U. S. Senate passed an amendment cosponsored by Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) to increase funding for veterans health care by $1.7 billion over the Fiscal Year 2002 Budget Resolution. Senator Rockefeller is the Ranking Democrat on the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

This week, Senator Rockefeller lobbied his colleagues to support an amendment increasing the budget for veterans health care, asking them to meet the Nation’s obligations to our veterans before a tax cut for the most affluent Americans.

"Without the increase provided by this amendment, VA would have been forced to eliminate staff, delay providing needed care, and slash vital programs," said Rockefeller.

"While we consider the best way to cut taxes responsibly, we mustn’t lose sight of our critical priorities. We all need to agree on how much should go to tax cuts and how much should be directed to fully addressing the needs of the men and women who have served our country."

The President’s VA budget proposal is simply not enough. Medical inflation and wage increases – factors beyond VA’s control – are estimated to eat up nearly $1 billion. Additional funding is also needed to implement two landmark programs, sponsored by Senator Rockefeller, that will significantly expand VA long-term care and emergency care coverage.

"In my own state of West Virginia, the number of veterans seeking care from VA has increased, despite a declining total number of veterans statewide. Rapidly expanding enrollment at all four West Virginia VA medical centers has jeopardized their ability to provide high quality care in a timely fashion. I am glad that the Senate will provide adequate funding to ensure that veterans have access to the best possible health care."

Because of drastic cuts to other priorities in the budget, Senator Rockefeller was forced to vote against the overall budget resolution, however he has stated that he will fight to ensure that this funding increase is included in the final VA budget that will be voted on later this year.