<font size="1">Complete Press Release at Kerry . com</font>
Kerry To Return To Washington, DC To Vote For Mandatory Vets Funding
June 22, 2004
For Immediate Release
Senator John Kerry released the following statement tonight announcing that he will return to Washington, DC to make a critical vote on behalf of America's 26 million veterans:
"There is no greater sacrifice than putting your life on the line in the name of freedom and in defense of this nation. We need to keep faith with those who have served our country, and that includes ensuring the care and benefits they need and deserve. I have met thousands of veterans as I travel across this country who fought with pride and honor, but still don't have the quality health care they need. I will return to Washington to fight for them."
Kerry To Vote For Mandatory Vets Funding
Today, John Kerry is returning to Washington to make a critical vote on behalf of America's 26 million veterans. On Tuesday, Senator Tom Daschle will offer an amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill to guarantee that veterans' programs are adequately funded by giving mandatory health care funding for veterans. John Kerry has long supported mandatory funding for vets, cosponsoring a number of bills over the years and making veterans' care a priority in this campaign.
The Daschle Amendment For Mandatory Funding: Under current law, veterans' funding is determined each year with no guarantees that funding will adequately meet the needs of the population or increases in cost. Today, there are significant shortfalls in the system. The Daschle amendment will provide a 30 percent increase in the first year, FY2005. In subsequent years, it will assure continued increases in funding to account for the veterans in the system and health inflation.
Assure All Vets Have Quality Health Care. Under the current VA plan there are scheduled to be about 500,000 vets left out of the system. Under the Daschle proposal, all vets will have full quality health care.
