(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Congressman Dennis Moore (Third District-KS) today supported the Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act of 2003, with serious reservations about its funding levels for veterans’ facilities across the country. Prior to the vote, Moore urged his colleagues to send the bill, H.R. 2861, back to the House Appropriations Committee for additional consideration.

“Veterans deserve more than this bill, which gives the VA $2.1 billion less than the House leadership requested. I have consistently gone to bat for veterans, and I will continue fighting for them in the future,” Moore said. “It is unconscionable that we’re not fully funding the VA at a time when we’re asking more young people to serve our country.”

H.R. 2861 allocates funding for the VA and HUD in FY 2004. Moore hopes that the conference committee to resolve differences between the House and Senate appropriations bills will negotiate for better funding of veterans’ medical care. A number of veterans’ organizations have voiced their disappointment in the bill’s low level of funding, including the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States.

A joint letter from the legislative leaders for the VFW and DAV also supports Moore’s stand: “This increase is wholly inadequate to provide health care to sick and disabled veterans, and represents a flagrant disregard to promises made to veterans by this Congress to increase health care appropriations by $1.8 billion above the President’s request.”

“I want to see this legislation receive full funding during conference committee, before it’s sent to the President. At a time when we’re asking more Americans to sacrifice for our nation, we should not cut funds for medical care facilities veterans may need upon their return home,” Moore said.

Earlier today, Moore offered an amendment to the bill that mirrored his recently-introduced bipartisan CARES legislation. Moore’s bill, H.R. 2808, would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to give Congress 60 days to review any action proposed closure of VA facilities or beds. The legislation comes after the VA suggested that the Dwight D. Eisenhower VA Medical Center in Leavenworth may be considered for possible downsizing of beds and services.

“Congress needs to be involved in the process of determining the future of the VA health care system, especially if facilities are on the chopping block,” said Moore. “Eliminating services in Leavenworth would be a disservice to the men and women who have served our country. In addition, redirecting those patients to the Kansas City VA Hospital, when there is already a six month wait for non-emergency care, would overwhelm a system that is already overwhelmed. After making a sacrifice for our country, our veterans should not be denied access to health benefits they have earned.”

H.R. 2861 passed in the House by a vote of 317 to 108.