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April 8, 2003 Dear fellow Veterans: In this time of crisis, our nation is looking to the brave men and women of the armed forces. They have never hesitated in answering their nation's call, giving of their time, service and in many cases their lives. Our nation owes them a debt that we can never repay. That is why it is unconscionable that the House leadership proposed drastic cuts in veterans' benefits. After making a sacrifice for their country, our veterans should not have to be concerned that their Department of Veterans Affairs will not provide the services or benefits they have earned. The budget which the House adopted would cut veterans' health care programs by $14.2 billion over 10 years below the level necessary to maintain current services. It also contains $14.6 billion in cuts over 10 years in mandatory veterans' programs, such as compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and Montgomery GI Bill education benefits. These cuts have outraged the nation's veterans service organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, AMVETS, the Cold War Veterans Association, Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America. The Disabled American Veterans wrote: "Has Congress no shame? Is there no honor left in the hallowed halls of our government that you choose to dishonor the sacrifices of our nation's heroes and rob our programs – health care and disability compensation – to pay for tax cuts..." As a veteran myself, it saddens me to see how some of our nation's finest citizens are being treated. We owe it to all of our veterans – whether they fought on the front lines or served here at home – to keep the promise America made to them. I voted against the House leadership's budget. Veterans should not be financially punished in the name of fiscal responsibility. Even in difficult budget times, there is no excuse for cutting already under-funded veterans' programs to pay for tax cuts. I will continue to urge my colleagues in Congress to rethink these cuts. We must work together from both sides of the aisle to ensure that these cuts are restored to honor our nation's commitment to care for its defenders. I will fight to see that Congress makes adequate funding for the Veterans' Administration a priority – not an afterthought.
Very truly yours,
DENNIS MOORE, MEMBER OF CONGRESS and CWVA MEMBER |
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