From the Office of Senator Kerry

Tuesday, June 29, 1999

Washington, DC - In a letter to President Clinton, Dr. Kenneth Kizer today announced that he will not be seeking renomination to the position of Under Secretary of Health for the Department of Veterans Affairs. On June 15, 1999 Senator John F. Kerry (D-MA) placed a hold on the renomination of Dr. Kizer.

In his letter to President Clinton, Kizer cites concerns that he would not be re-nominated for a second term.

Senator Kerry said, "My concern has always been helping our veterans find the health care they need. The Undersecretary for Health must be an advocate for the health care needs of all our veterans. It is our shared responsibility to find a lasting solution to the VA healthcare funding crisis. I remain committed to that goal."

Massachusetts has been forced to absorb a significant budget cut as part of the VA's effort to reorganize the way it delivers health care services. For the fourth consecutive year, Massachusetts is facing the greatest cuts within the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) I. It has endured $54 million in health care cuts during this period.

The Northampton VA Medical Center already has lost 150 hospital beds, the Bedford Hospital has lost 230 beds and the Boston/Brockton/West Roxbury Hospitals have lost a total of 330 beds. Staff at the hospitals has been reduced by more than 1,200.

On March 1, 1998, Kerry joined over 70 Senators and Members in requesting adequate funds for VA Healthcare in the President's budget for fiscal year 2000. This request went unheeded and the VA health care budget remains at $18.1 billion, even though the Administration has proposed five new programs for fiscal year 2000 estimated at $600 million. In addition, on March 24, Kerry led the Massachusetts delegation in sending a letter stressing their concerns about funding cuts for veterans' services in Massachusetts and asking for a significant increase in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health care budget.