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The House and Bush have to step forward. Below the fold, the e-mail I got from Sen. Patty Murray, who is leading the fight for the veterans and WHY she has had to bring up legislation twice to get the $1.5 BILLION extra funds for veteran health care.

Sen. Murray has been a true leader for veterans. See why below:

MY AMENDMENT AFFIRMS SENATE COMMITMENT TO $1.5 BILLION FOR VETS’ HEALTH CARE


This week, I led an effort on the Senate floor to reaffirm the Senate’s commitment to provide $1.5
Murray Amendment Passes Senate Unanimously
billion in emergency spending to fill a shortfall in the VA’s 2005 budget.


In an amendment to the Homeland Security Appropriations bill, I called on my Senate colleagues to stand by the commitment we made two weeks ago to fund much-needed health care for our veterans. My amendment passed 95-0 on Tuesday.


Get more information on my amendment:

BACKGROUND: WHY DID THE SENATE HAVE TO VOTE AGAIN FOR $1.5 BILLION?


Two weeks ago, recognizing that the shortfall in VA funding had to be corrected immediately, I successfully sponsored an amendment to provide $1.5 billion for veterans’ health care. This amendment passed the Senate 96-0 on June 29th.


Unfortunately, the House of Representatives passed a bill that only provided $975 million. Just after the Senate voted for a $1.5 billion boost, the Senate Majority Leader pushed for the Senate to accept the House’s lower level of $975 million (rather than $1.5 billion). That sent a message that the Senate was backing away from its commitment to provide $1.5 billion — and that reduction in funding would hurt our veterans.


At the House level of funding, our veterans would face:


  • A continued hiring freeze at the VA;
  • No new specialists hired for pressing health care needs like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; and
  • * No new clinics opened in Bellingham and Wenatchee.

I’m glad the Senate passed my amendment to maintain $1.5 billion in funding for veterans’ health care. But there is still more work to do. We must continue to work for the Senate funding level in negotiations with the House, and we must see that that the President signs this bill into law.

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