Addressing the real needs of veterans
The following is a press release from November 11, 2003, by the Kucinich campaign
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Kucinich Addresses Needs of Veterans
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 11, 2003
Presidential Candidate Dennis Kucinich today released the following statement:
"Our veterans have fought for our country. It is a disgrace for them to not be provided adequate health care. There are more than 60,000 veterans nationwide waiting up to six months or longer for an appointment at VA hospitals, and another 14,000 have waited over 15 months. The President and the Republicans in Congress promised to provide $1.8 billion for veterans' health care but broke their word. Instead they want to raise co-payments for prescription drugs and enrollment fees. I have proposed an additional $3 billion for veterans' health care and am co-sponsoring HR 2569, a comprehensive package of benefits that would prevent raises in prescription drug co-payments and enrollment fees. HR 2569 would require that VA hospitals make appointments within 30 days. Our veterans should not have to fight for health coverage after having fought for their country.
"I am also cosponsoring HR 303, which would permit members of the armed forces who retired with over 20 years of service and who have service-connected disabilities to receive compensation.
"The Administration has made a mockery of the treatment of our veterans; ignoring their needs and slashing the Department of Veteran Affairs budget by 27 percent. While thousands of men and women stood risking their lives in the Middle East early last month, the Bush administration cut their combat pay by one-third. Although this reduction is built into the $87.5 billion President Bush has just received, Halliburton and Bechtel have not been asked to reduce any of their enormous profits. The members of the Guard and Reserve units that are in Iraq are finding out that the separation pay which they have received for their families is also being reduced. This is a shameful dishonor and it must be stopped. We must support our troops by bringing them home and by providing them with health coverage and adequate compensation."
For more information: http://www.kucinich.us
For Rep. Kucinich's Schedule: http://www.kucinich.us/schedule.htm.
Contact: David Swanson 202-329-7847 swanson@kucinich.us
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