...for as long as it takes
Legislative Alert March 8, 1999
Background:
The President's FY 2000 budget for the VA has been submitted to Congress and once again it is clear that veterans are not a priority of this Administration. Under the current budget, funding for veterans medical care and other programs will be essentially frozen at the same level as was provided over the last three fiscal years despite the availability of a huge budget surplus! The VFW estimates that the Administration's health care request falls $3 billion short of what is needed to effectively provide for the health-care needs of our nations veterans. Also, veterans claims are backlogged and delayed due to staff cuts and inadequate funding which adversely affect the quality and timeliness of veterans' claims processing.
Status:
Congress has not as of yet released its budget recommendations for the VA. Commander in Chief Thomas A. Pouliot testified before the joint House and Senate Veterans affairs Committee about the inadequate budget and the need for $3 billion more to meet the needs of veterans. Please note that we are now shifting gears to concentrate on members of the House and Senate Budget Affairs Committees. We need your help now.
Action Needed:
The attached is a list of House and Senate Budget Committee members. Write a brief letter to House and Senate Budget Committee members from your state. If there is not a Budget Committee member from your state, write to the Ranking House Member and/or Senate Chairman. Tell them the Administration's VA Budget is inadequate and must be increased to meet the urgent needs of America's veterans. Let the member know that it is up to Congress to take steps to increase VA funding and make veterans a national priority.
The suggested address style for
House Members:
The Honorable _____
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Representative _____:
Senate Members:
The Honorable ______
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator _____:
Senate Budget Committee
Republicans
Pete Domenici, NM Chairman
Chuck Grassley IA
Don Nickles, OK
Phil Gramm, TX
Christopher Bond, M
O
Slade Gorton, WA
Judd Gregg, NH
Olympia Snowe, ME
Spencer Abraham, MI
William Frist, TN
Rod Grams, MN
Gordon Smith, OR
Democrats
Frank Lautenberg NJ Ranking Member
Ernest Hollings, SC
Kent Conrad, ND
Paul Sarbanes, MD
Barbara Boxer, CA
Patty Murray, WA
Ron Wyden,OR
Russell Feingold,WI
Tim Johnson, SD
Richard DurbinIL
House Budget Committee
Republicans
John R. Kasich (Ohio), Chairman
Saxby Chambliss (Georgia), Speaker's Designee
Christopher Shays (Connecticut)
Wally Herger (California)
Bob Franks (New Jersey)
Nick Smith (Michigan)
Jim Nussle (Iowa)
Peter Hoekstra (Michigan)
George P. Radanovich (California)
Charles F. Bass (New Hampshire)
Gil Gutknecht (Minnesota)
Van Hilleary (Tennessee)
John E. Sununu New Hampshire)
Joseph Pitts (Pennsylvania)
Joe Knollenberg (Michigan)
William "Mac" Thornberry (Texas)
Jim Ryun (Kansas)
Mac Collins Georgia)
Zach Wamp (Tennessee)
Mark Green Wisconsin)
Ernie Fletcher Kentucky)
Gary Miller (California)
Paul Ryan (Wisconsin)
Pat Toomey (Pennsylvania)
Democrats
John Spratt - South Carolina, Ranking Member
Jim McDermott - Washington
Lynn Rivers - Michigan
Bennie Thompson - Mississippi
David Minge - Minnesota
Ken Bentsen - Texas
Jim Davis - Florida
Bob Weygand - Rhode Island
Eva Clayton - North Carolina
David Price - North Carolina
Ed Markey - Massachusetts
Gerald Kleczka - Wisconsin
Bob Clement - Tennessee
Jim Moran - Virginia
Darlene Hooley - Oregon
Ken Lucas - Kentucky
Rush Holt - New Jersey
Joseph Hoeffel - Pennsylvania
Tammy Baldwin - Wisconsin
Nadia Caprice Garnett
VFW Action Corps
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Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by VNIS. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of VNIS, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes. VNIS is not a government agency and is a sole proprietorship, own and operated by Christian L. Wilson USN/Ret
