News: VVA Calls for $5 Billion More for Health Care and Better Outreach

News: VVA Calls for $5 Billion More for Health Care and Better Outreach
Posted on March 08, 2008 by editor

VVA praised and damned Congress for actions taken and not taken and hit on legislation that could make a huge difference for veterans
by Vietnam Veterans of America

In testimony before a joint session of the Senate and House Committees on Veterans' Affairs, VVA National President John Rowan both praised and damned Congress for actions taken and not taken, and hit on legislation that, if enacted, could make a huge difference in the lives of veterans and their families.

"Congress deserves our thanks for the significant increases in appropriations for veterans health care in the current fiscal year, although you must exercise stringent oversight to ensure that the funding goes to where it's supposed to go," Rowan said. "And we hope you will be firm in adding the $5.24 billion that VVA believes is needed for FY'09, part of which would enable so-called 'higher income' veterans to enroll in the VA healthcare system.

"Still, we remain staunch in our advocacy for the passage of an assured funding bill that would end the annual wrangling over veterans healthcare funding," Rowan said. "We have endorsed H.R. 2514 and companion legislation in the Senate, S. 331, and we again urge you to give these your consideration particularly now, at a time when the VA should be anticipating an influx of 100,000 new veterans during the next fiscal year." (continued...)
http://www.veteranstoday.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=2909

I find it very odd that with all the people in this country, there are not more people in this country taking action for the sake of the veterans and the troops who will become veterans. How can this still fail to touch the minds and hearts of all the American people? When will every single man and woman in this country pay attention to what is going on and make sure the veterans do their fighting in combat and not here when they have to fight the VA to have their own needs taken care of?

I became a Chaplain in order to serve the veterans better. After being out here on my own, investing most of my free time on their needs, and then most of my day on them, I needed to find people of like mind because there are just not enough people taking the time to care with action. I'm not saying that everyone should throw away their careers but how much time does it take to make a phone call? How much time does it take to write a letter or send an email? How much time does it take to write a letter to the editor of their local newspaper? It takes very little time but can make a world of difference to each and every one of them along with their families.

Outreach work is very important but as we try to get them into the help they need to heal, we are finding there are very few places to send them because nothing was ready for them. Changes are coming but they will take time to filter in and take care of more veterans but what will happen to the veterans we are getting through to who need help but have up until now been reluctant to seek it? What happens to them when they are up against a sea of other veterans needing help?

There is so much that needs to be done for them and all of us had better hurry up and do it. If we don't, we will prove the words "grateful nation" are just two words we like to use just like "support the troops" instead of actually doing it.