From the Office of Senator Kerry

Tuesday, January 9, 2001

Washington, DC - Senator Kerry announced today that Massachusetts veterans will benefit from a new round of supplemental veteran's health care funding. VISN 1 - (Veterans Integrated Service Network) which includes all of New England, will receive an additional $54 million to continue with normal operations in the coming fiscal year. Massachusetts Veterans in Boston will receive approximately $16 million, in Bedford $3.8 million and Northampton $2.7 million.

"This funding is desperately needed by a hospital system trying to provide quality medical care for Massachusetts veterans," said Senator Kerry. "While VISN 1 has taken extraordinary cost-saving measures in recent years, these savings have been offset by inflated health-care costs and a necessary expansion in the scope of services offered by the VA. I am concerned that this additional funding, while very good news, only provides a temporary bandage for a veterans' health care system in need of major surgery. I will continue to work to ensure that VISN 1 -- and veterans everywhere -- receive sufficient funding and support to ensure that the United States can keep its promise to provide excellent health care to those who have given so much to our country."

Senator Kerry has been lobbying the Department of Veteran's Affairs for four years for additional VA funding for both New England and Massachusetts. The original FY01 allocation was not sufficient to fund Network operations, with a deficit of $75 million. $21 was subsequently trimmed from the budget request. The supplemental funding request was approved by VA Headquarters for the remaining $54M deficit. The majority of this amount $ 46.8M (87%) is in supplemental funding, with a small percentage $7.2M (13%) in the form of a loan to be offset in future years.