Veteran's Affairs Funding

9 February 2005

I respectfully request that when the VA authorization is examined in the Veterans' Affairs and the BudgetCommittees that you to stand up as you have been for America's Veterans. I have unshaken faith that you will because you are a veteran, and that fact I deeply honor and respect.

Last session you stood up by proposing that full military healthcare coverage be given to guardsman and reservists in Iraq. I was proud of this as I have many friends that are Veterans or in the military. The administration cut the budget for the VA in its budget document just released. This cut in benfits hurts the Veterans and will hurt recruitment. The complaint that shifting funds from weapons system to VA accounts hurts fighting wars is a hollow complaint. It hurts much more when we do not fund veterans' healthcare.

I beileive and I think you agree, that taking funding from VA health care will hurt our warfighting ability more. This action will dampen already sour recruitment numbers. I help the local recruiters as a civilian volunteer, service I recieved an award for, and know that once young people find out they will stop enlisting. Lower enlistments will force a draft, the outcome noone wants.

Please stop this administration from raiding the VA budget. I ask you to use your positions on the Veterans' Affairs and Budget Committees to advocate for more spending on the VA. Our veterans deserve it and so does our country.

Thanks for your time.