Mr. Chairman, I am pleased that the Committee is holding this hearing on veterans compensation for tobacco-related illnesses. As you are well aware, the Senate Budget resolution proposes veterans be denied compensation for tobacco-related illnesses and the savings be shifted to additional transportation projects.
This hearing will help us determine whether we continue compensating veterans for tobacco-related illnesses. Under current statutes, VA's General Counsel has determined that VA is authorized to pay disability compensation to veterans who prove that they became addicted to tobacco while in military service, and if the continued addiction resulted in disability. Over the pass several years, nearly 7,000 veterans have filed tobacco- related disability claims. However, only 278 veterans, or less than 4 percent of those who filed, have received compensation.
The question before this Committee is whether the Federal government will continue to be responsible for compensating veterans for tobacco-related illnesses that may have occurred as a result of smoking while on active-duty. Mr. Chairman, I am not fully convinced that the Department of Veterans Affairs should be paying compensation for tobacco-related illnesses for veterans. I do believe, however, that veterans should be afforded the same benefits and services that may be provided to non-veterans under the proposed tobacco settlement.
The more immediate question that this Committee will have to confront is the provision included in the proposed FY99 budget by the Senate Budget Committee. The Budget Committee bars disability compensation for tobacco-related illnesses. The Committee made this decision without the benefit of any hearings on this issue, and without the counsel and support of this authorizing Committee. This is travesty and affront to Members of this Committee and to our nation's veterans. Without a doubt, I strongly disagree with the Budget Committee's decision to transfer supposed savings from the veterans account to the general function account to fund additional transportation projects.
Mr. Chairman, it is unfortunate that our nation's veterans are sacrificed, once again, not for a noble cause like freedom and democracy, but for a road, tunnels, and bridges--and jobs. If there are truly savings from denying veterans disability compensation for tobacco related illnesses, these savings should go toward ensuring quality health care and benefits for veterans before we seek other worthy causes.
Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you for holding today's hearing and for raising the attention of the plight of our nation's veterans. I look forward to working with you, Senator Rockefeller, and other members of this Committee to resolve these issues.
