Crowley, Maloney Seek $3.4B More For Military Health Care

Charging President George W. Bush has "failed to live up to his promises to provide adequate health care" for wounded warriors returning from Iraq and other of our nation's war veterans, Congressmembers Joseph Crowley and Carolyn Maloney called for a $3.4 billion increase above the president's request for military health care.

Their request would be funded in legislation they have submitted to Congress which is expected to come up for a vote this week.

Included in their bill, they said last Sunday at a press conference at the Manhattan VA Hospital, would be funds to ensure that Veterans Administration hospitals in Manhattan and Brooklyn receive adequate federal assistance for veterans needing care at these facilities.

Crowley and Maloney also charge that repeated budget cuts by the Bush administration in previous years have made it almost impossible for the VA and the military healthcare system, overburdened as both are, to provide treatment for the rising number of wounded servicemen and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

"President Bush has failed to live up to his promise to do all he can to support the troops, from the Walter Reed Hospital scandal to the growing lines and waitlists for veterans' health care," Crowley declared.

Maloney (D- Queens/Manhattan) weighed in, "The shocking Walter Reed scandal highlighted the inadequate attention this administration has paid to our nation's war veterans. 'Support the troops' should be more than [a] political mantra, and it should be evident in the care we give our injured soldiers," she declared.

Maloney added, "To make sure our military healthcare system does not continue to be stretched thin, it is important that Congress act this week to increase the military healthcare spending by $3.4 billion over the president's proposal."

Also referring to the pending legislation, Crowley stated: "By seeking $3.4 billion over the president's request for military health care, this Congress is taking a first step to make sure our troops receive the medical care and treatment they need."

- John Toscano