Rumsfeld, Rice to attend VFW convention about health care

Houston Chronicle

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice will be the featured speakers, but the issue of health care for veterans will occupy center stage when an estimated 12,000 retired warriors convene here for the 104th Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention next week. ---

Citing an "impending crisis" in veterans health care, the group's leader let it be known Wednesday that Congress will be held accountable if planned Department of Veterans Affairs cuts aren't reversed. The VFW will implore congressional leaders to boost the VA's 2004 health care budget by $3.2 billion rather than $1.4 billion approved by the U.S. House on July 25 -- a difference of $1.8 billion.

The VFW said there are 23 million surviving veterans, and 38 percent of them are at least 65 years of age -- many requiring long-term and other health care. But due to funding constraints, veterans entitled to health benefits are waiting longer for some forms of assistance, often in deteriorating facilities.

One of numerous proposed resolutions before the convention will be a document demanding that the VA "immediately correct the underlying problems that contribute to intolerable clinic waiting times for primary and specialty care nationwide." VFW Commander-in-Chief Ray Sisk of Bakersfield, Calif. said more than 100,000 veterans wait at least six months for a first-time or speciality appointment. ---

As much as they shit on veterans and soldiers they diserve it.

either one of them has the gall to show their faces at this convention. I hope they get the reception that they both REALLY deserve.

They're the problem, not the solution.

And, not mentioned, the thousands who have claims in regarding Agent Orange, whose claims have not even been looked at, and who are suffering from myriad ailments.. Guess they are just waiting for them to die off. Then they can say, "See, we did budget enough money."

Veteran's groups cheered and gave Cheney standing ovations when he spoke to them about the war in Iraq. Instead of cheering they should have be asking the burning questions, like what are you going to do for the vets you already have, before you make new ones!!

whats next ? Packwood to address NOW ?

These cretins want to send hundreds of thousands more American through the neo-con meatgrinder, for fun and profit, while they cut veterans benefits. :puke: