U.S.
Senator Member of the Agriculture, Energy and Veterans Affairs
Committees |
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For Immediate
Release September 22, 2005 |
CONTACT: Cody Wertz – Press Secretary 202-228-3630 Jen Clanahan – Deputy Press Secretary 303-455-7600 |
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Sen. Salazar Helps Focus V.A. on Budget Discipline and Rural Veterans’ Healthcare WASHINGTON, D.C. – Taxpayers will no longer risk being surprised by a wave of red ink at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (V.A.) while rural veterans in Colorado and across the Nation may soon have improved access to V.A. outpatient care. The two milestones come as a result of amendments added by United States Senator Ken Salazar to the Military Construction Appropriations Act (H.R. 2528) which was passed by the Senate earlier today. “Rural veterans in Colorado and across the Nation have been left behind by the V.A. while taxpayers are being asked to foot the bill for huge budget overruns. This kind of mismanagement stops here,” said Senator Salazar. Under Senator Salazar’s Budget Watchdog amendment (SA 1867), the V.A. will no longer be able to hide its internal fiscal problems from Congressional oversight – V.A. will be required to immediately notify Congress if Department officials become aware the Department may face a budget shortfall totaling 2 percent.
“Returning fiscal sanity to Washington means making sure that the federal government can’t simply hide their financial problems and then leave the bill for the taxpayers. They should play by the same rules as families across Colorado and America,” said Sen. Salazar. Under Senator Salazar’s Rural Clinic Access amendment (SA 1868), the V.A. will be required to develop an action plan to provide improved health care access at outpatient clinics for veterans in rural communities.
“It is beyond me why the V.A. continues to overlook veterans in rural communities. Our rural cities and towns have sacrificed too much for our Nation and asked nothing in return. Now the V.A. will make veterans in these communities a priority, too,” said Sen. Salazar. Having been passed by the full Senate, the FY06 Military Construction/ Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill (HR 2528) will now proceed to conference committee to iron out differences between House and Senate versions. The compromise conference report will then be voted upon a second time by both the House and Senate. If the House and Senate both approve the conference report, it will go on to the President’s desk for signature or veto. # # # |
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