The Patriot Files Forums - Obama Makes Vet Health Care Reform Law

I know I've said that I would attempt to stay away from any "political" posts and not respond to such posts. But----this is just absolutely HOGWASH! THe TRUTH must be allowed to speak for itself.

The Partnership for Veterans Health Care Budget Reform, which includes The American Legion, AMVETS, The Blind Veterans of America, the Disabled American Veterans, The Jewwish War Veterans of America, The Military Order of The Purple Heart,The Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), The Vietnam Veterans of America AND a coalition of 36 other veterans and military organizations have GONE ON PUBLIC RECORD in SUPPORT of this new Bill!

This CBO and GAO "report" listed in the above post is just more HOGWASH!

This is the very same CBO that for YEARS "low-balled" the VA Budget to the point of almost shutting the VA down for God's sake!

Who are we gonna believe? These "jerks" who for many, many years have BEEN the "problem"? Or---the MORE than thirty-six (36) Veterans and military organizations who have been in SUPPORT of this bill from it's inception?

I know "who" I'm gonna believe----and it sure as HELL ain't the CBO-----for SURE!

Here is a "sampling" of what many of the Veterans Orgs had to say about this bill!

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From the Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America...

"This historic legislation aimed at preventing lawmakers' inability to get its work done on time from hurting veterans' medical care is on its way to the White House for President Obama's signature. Delays in passing the Veterans Affairs Department budget are nothing new; this is the 20th time in the last 23 years that the VA budget has not been approved by the start of the fiscal year. Failure to act on time, which can be disruptive to VA hospitals and clinics nationwide, led every major veterans organization to make the advance funding bill their top legislative priority for the year. The Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 will provide funding one year in advance for veterans medical programs so there will be no lapse if Congress fails to approve the traditional budget by the start of the fiscal year."
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The American Legion cheers "landmark" VA advance funding bill
The bill now on its way to the White House for President’s signature

WASHINGTON, DC (October 15, 2009) - A long campaign by The American Legion has come to a victorious conclusion with Senate passage Tuesday of the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009, better known as the "VA Advance Appropriations Bill."
The bill, H.R. 1016, passed the Senate by unanimous consent and with no debate. The House of Representatives gave final approval to the bill Oct. 8 with a 419-1 vote. The act authorizes financial appropriations for Department of Veterans Affairs medical care programs one year in advance of the start of each fiscal year, beginning in 2011.

National Commander Clarence E. Hill of The American Legion was greatly pleased when he learned of the Senate action Tuesday. "Imagine having to live paycheck-to-paycheck, but not knowing how much that paycheck would be or when it would arrive," Hill said. "That's the situation the VA's Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has been in. This has resulted in hardships for the agency and even compromises in care to veterans."

Yesterday, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic and
Republican Members of Congress joined representatives from The American Legion and other Veterans Service Organizations for an enrollment ceremony, an official ceremony the Speaker does when formally sending bills to the President for signature, for the act. At the event, Speaker Pelosi signed the legislation, which will now be sent to President Obama for his signature.
"I have every confidence that President Obama will sign this act into law and thus resolve this longstanding problem," said Hill. "This is a milestone measure and The American Legion celebrates it."

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At Long Last: Veterans Health Care Funding Reform
DAV Proposal on Advance Appropriations Signed Into Law

October 23, 2009

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22—The DAV’s top legislative priority for many years — providing sufficient, timely and predictable funding for veterans health care — is finally a reality.

With National Commander Bobby Barrera standing behind President Obama in the White House’s East Room, the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act (H.R. 1016) was signed into law Oct. 22, sealing one of the most significant legislative victories for veterans since World War II.

“Every disabled veteran will benefit from this momentous move as will every future disabled veteran,” Commander Barrera said after the bill signing. “It is an honor to be part of the signing ceremony, a day we have all worked toward for more than two decades. Everyone should be proud of what we, as an organization, have accomplished here.”

“After so much effort by the DAV and others, it is very exciting to see our efforts finally culminate in this new law,” Commander Barrera said. “This landmark legislation will bring transparency to the budget process and provide sufficient, timely and predictable funding for the VA so veterans can access quality health care in a timely manner. This is definitely a great victory for all veterans, especially disabled veterans who rely on VA for their care
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PRESIDENT OBAMA SIGNS ADVANCE VA FUNDING BILL

AMVETS, nation’s top veterans’ organizations on hand to mark monumental step in assuring sufficient, timely and predictable funding for VA health care

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2009—Today President Barack Obama signed a bill into law authorizing Congress to finance veterans’ health care through the Department of Veterans Affairs one fiscal year in advance. AMVETS National Commander Duane Miskulin was on hand at the White House with leaders from other top veterans’ organizations for the monumental signing.
For 13 years, AMVETS has been pushing Congress to overhaul the VA funding mechanism as a member of the Partnership for Veterans Health Care Budget reform, a consortium of the nation's top veterans' organizations, concerned over the effects of VA budget delays on veterans who rely on VA health care.

“President Obama’s signing of the VA advance appropriations bill is a monumental step for our nation's veterans and the culmination of more than a decade of hard work by AMVETS and the Partnership,” said Miskulin. “To the average veteran, advance appropriations means better access to care, shorter wait times for appointments, and shorter lines at the VA medical center since VA will be able to implement new programs and hire additional staff in a timely manner, rather than waiting for Congress to sort out political matters, while veterans suffer.”

Congress has failed to deliver the VA budget on time for 20 of the last 23 years, including this year. Miskulin said this forces VA to essentially ration care in the interim, while Congress hashes out the details. The Obama Administration had made advance appropriations a top priority for VA after listening to key voices within the veterans’ community, such as AMVETS, calling for sufficient, timely, and predictable funding for VA health care.

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October 22, 2009
Mark Daley
(202) 615-7128

Paralyzed Veterans of America Applauds Enactment of Historic Advance Appropriation Legislation

Washington, DC—Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans) welcomes the enactment of legislation that we have spent more than 20 years working on. Today, President Obama signed into law H.R. 1016, the “Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009.” This historic legislation makes funding for the health-care programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) an advance appropriation, guaranteeing sufficient, timely and predictable funding.

“Paralyzed Veterans, along with many other veterans service organizations, have fought hard for sufficient, timely and predictable funding of VA health care,” said Paralyzed Veterans’ National President Gene A. Crayton. “This now means that VA will get its funding on time, and our veterans will get the health care they have earned in a timely manner.”

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This should PROVE---without ANY DOUBT---just WHO to "believe"!

Gimp