Maine House approves veterans’ resolution for steady health care

HOULTON, Maine — A resolution to urge more federal support for health care for veterans has been approved by the Maine House of Representatives. Rep. Richard Cleary, D-Houlton, expressed his excitement over the approval, saying veterans have been long overdue for stable medical services.
    “I’m ecstatic,” said Cleary. “They veterans have served our country and some have given the ultimate sacrifice, but those that need health care, that’s just a reasonable service to them, and we should be supplying that to them for the sacrifice they make.”
Cleary said last year the veterans’ group approached him over concerns they had with the Veterans Affair funding and Cleary said he listened and researched the matter and took action.
“The concern really is about the discretionary versus dedicated funding,” explained Cleary. “The problem is that because it’s discretionary it can go away pretty quickly. What they want is to get some dedicated funds so the VA can work on better health care to take care of the veterans. It should be there when they need and not when it gets some press … it should be there all the time to provide a steady system of health care for the veterans.”
Currently the funding for veterans health care can fluctuate greatly from one budget year to the next. Upon approval by the Senate, the Secretary of State will send the resolution to President George W. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and to each member of the Maine Congressional delegation.
“I think it will be presented without any difficulty,” said Cleary.
The entire language of the resolution is as follows:
“WE, your Memorialists, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Maine now assembled in the Second Regular Session, most respectfully present and petition the President of the United States, the United States Congress and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as follows:
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs provides medical care for all veterans of the United States Armed Forces; and
WHEREAS, the funding for this health care is passed each year by the United States Congress as part of the discretionary budget; and
WHEREAS, this health care is seriously under funded; and
WHEREAS, this serious and now chronic shortfall affects the veterans’ access to quality medical care services; and
WHEREAS, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and our Nation have a duty to serve our veterans and have entered into a contract, absolute and irrevocable, to provide them with proper health care; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That We, your Memorialists, respectfully urge and request that full funding for health care for veterans of the United States Armed Forces be passed and that all parties involved do their utmost to see that those who served their Nation are given the health care they deserve; and be it further
RESOLVED: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, to the President of the United States Senate, to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, to the Honorable James B. Peake, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and to each Member of the Maine Congressional Delegation.”