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Sample Letters: VA Mandatory Funding

Dear Representative (Your Rep’s Name:):

I am writing to request that you cosponsor and actively support the passage of H.R. 2514, the Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act. This bill would guarantee funding for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care, ensure an adequate level of funding, and provide such funding in a timely manner.

Currently, the law requires the VA Secretary to provide hospital care and medical services to veterans enrolled in the VA health care system, but only to the extent Congress has provided money to cover the costs of the care. In an era of funding government programs through continuing resolutions, emergency supplemental appropriations, and increased funding levels provided months into the fiscal year, VA facilities have had to restrict services provided to veterans, delay hiring of new clinical staff, institute local and regional freelance policies to restrict eligibility and care, and impose a variety of questionable—and potentially hazardous—cost-cutting measures just to make ends meet. It is clear that VA operates in a state of management paralysis, planning chaos, and structural financial crisis as a direct consequence of the discretionary budget process. This is not an effective approach to providing our newest sick and disabled veterans and those of previous wars the medical care and specialized services they need.

Year after year, veterans fight for sufficient funding for VA health care and a budget that is reflective of the rising cost of health care and increased demand for medical services. Despite these continued efforts, the cumulative effects of insufficient health care funding have now resulted in the rationing of medical care. This situation is unacceptable. As a concerned citizen, and beneficiary of the service and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans, I want our government to fully honor its moral obligation to provide timely and adequate health care services to all wartime service-connected disabled veterans.

Providing quality, timely health care services for veterans disabled as a result of military service should be a top priority. In a time when more veterans are turning to VA for care, it is unconscionable that VA must reduce services, close enrollment and ration care due to insufficient funding. H.R. 2514 will end rationing of health care for sick and disabled veterans that currently exists because of the discretionary funding process.

The Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act, H.R. 2514, would shift VA medical care from a discretionary to a mandatory funding program and provide adequate funding in a timely manner. This would help ensure that all veterans eligible for care in the VA health care system will have access to timely, quality health care. It would also eliminate the year-to-year uncertainty about funding levels that has prevented VA from being able to effectively plan for and meet the growing needs of veterans seeking treatment. Guaranteed funding would not create an individual entitlement to health care, change the VA’s current mission, nor eliminate Congress’ ability to conduct oversight.

I hope you will join in this effort by supporting and cosponsoring H.R. 2514, the Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act. I appreciate your prompt consideration of my request. Please respond in writing with your views on this important issue.

Dear Senator (Your Senator’s Name):

I am writing to request that you introduce and actively support legislation that would guarantee funding for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care, ensure an adequate level of funding, and provide such funding in a timely manner.

Legislation has already been introduced in the House that would shift VA medical care from a discretionary to a mandatory funding program and provide adequate funding in a timely manner. This would help ensure that all veterans eligible for care in the VA health care system will have access to timely, quality health care. It would also eliminate the year-to-year uncertainty about funding levels that has prevented VA from being able to effectively plan for and meet the growing needs of veterans seeking treatment. Guaranteed funding would not create an individual entitlement to health care, change the VA’s current mission, nor eliminate Congress’ ability to conduct oversight.

I hope you will join in this effort by introducing and actively supporting legislation that assures adequate and timely funding for VA medical care. I appreciate your prompt consideration of my request. Please respond in writing with your views on this important issue.

IMPORTANT NUMBERS

Nat’l. Hdqrs., DAV (877) 426-2838

NSO Office, Cleveland (216) 522-3507

NSO Office, Cincinnati (513) 684-2676

Washington Office, DAV (202) 554-3501

Cincinnati HSC,

Sheila Clements (513) 475-6443

Mike Shaw (513) 475-6443

Dayton HSC, (937) 268-6511

Gene McCorkle Ext. 2962

Wade Park HSC, (216) 791-3800

Walter Dryja Ext. 3395

Chillicothe HSC (740) 773-1141

James Keller Ext. 7916

Columbus Clinic, (614) 257-5487

Michael Hackworth

Brecksville HSC, (440) 526-3030

Don Branford Ext. 7353

Warren Clinic (330) 392-0311

Youngstown Clinic (330) 70-9200

Ext. 105

Veterans Administration 1-800-827-1000

DATES TO REMEMBER

November 3, 2007 Information Seminar, The Buddy Chapter #43, beginning at 9 a.m., 201 E. Front Street, Findlay, Ohio.

November 3, 2007 2^nd District Meeting,

12 noon, Dayton VAMC, Building 305, Dayton, Ohio. Multi-purpose Room, lunch provided, Joint DAV and DAVA District Meeting.

November 12, 1007 Forget-Me-Not, Peerless Chapter #10, Kroger’s, Portsmouth, Ohio

March 2-5, 2008 DAV Mid-Winter Conference, Crystal Gateway Marriott, Arlington, VA

April 6, 2008 8^th District Meeting, Bellaire Chapter #117, Lunch at 1 p.m. and meeting to begin at 2 p.m., Bellaire.

April 12, 2008 Testimonial Dinner Auxiliary Commander Dorothy Clark, Holiday Inn Eastgate, Cincinnati, Ohio

April 19, 2008 Testimonial Dinner Commander Robert Bertschy, Holiday Inn, Canton, 4520 Everhard Rd., NW, Canton, OH

April 27, 2008 6^th District Meeting, Brooklyn-Parma Chapter #116, at 2 p.m.

April 27, 2008 7^th District Meeting, Alliance Chapter #50, at 2 p.m., Alliance, Ohio

June 5-8, 2008 DAV Department Convention, The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio

August 9-12, 2008 DAV National Convention,

Bally’s Hotel, Las Vegas.

October 10-12, 2008 DAV Department Fall Conference, The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

June 4-7, 2009 DAV Department Convention,

The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

October 9-11, 2009 DAV Department Fall Conference, The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

June 10-13, 2010 DAV Department Convention,

The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

October 8-10, 2010 DAV Department Fall Conference, The Crowne Plaza, Dublin, Ohio.

NOTES FROM YOUR STATE ADJUTANT

Thought For December: The saying used to be – “Yes, Johnny, there really is a Santa Claus”. In the politically correct madness of today’s world, the new saying is – “No, Johnny, there is no Santa Claus because there is no Christmas, there is only The Holiday Season”.

I would like to share with you, a letter from Army Master Sgt Lukens who is currently deployed to Afghanistan:

The situation today with our military in Iraq & Afghanistan is often compared to Vietnam. The most tragic and heart-rending comparison is of parents who may think their sons and daughters died “for nothing.” In the past 60 years, as now, nothing could be further from the truth! The Cold War is often called the war that was won “without firing a shot.” It was nothing like that. While the Soviet Union and the US did not directly face off against each other, their “proxy” armies did fight. Two conflicts stand out - In the Korean War, the 1^st major conflict of the Cold War, Western Forces repelled the Communist Forces. Even as the war reached stalemate, the free South Korea was protected from communist domination. The mere existence of South Korea and its economic superiority prove that we won the Korean War.

The Vietnam conflict is often called a lost war. While tragic and divisive, the fact that we stood up to communism all those years made our enemies reconsider the will of the free world. No American life was lost in vain; the conflict was bigger than what happened on the ground. Had we allowed the communists to take over countries at will, that would have been a loss. Stated parochially, our determination to fights in those conflicts is directly responsible for our continued freedom. It is the reason we are not now ruled by China or the Soviet Union (now Russia).

The same applies today! Terrorists who would love nothing more that to destroy our way of life continue to stream into Iraq and Afghanistan to fight us. Let’s kill them over there before they come

over here. If we acquiesce, and leave before the job is done, they will come here. Remember 9/11!!!

No American life is “wasted” over there; their fight is the good fight for freedom! Our will to stand up to communists ended the Cold War; our will to stand up to terrorists will preserve our freedom.

Master Sgt Lukens I applaud you.

The New York Post states: The “mainstream media” is ignoring the war in Iraq because things are going annoyingly well. The situation in Iraq has changed so unmistakably and so swiftly that we should be reading proud headlines daily. Al-Qaida is on the run in Iraq and their support in the muslim world has plummeted; partly because of the terror group’s lack of success in Iraq; more because Al-Qadia’s attacks have mostly killed muslim civilians. The US news media has paid scant attention. When US troop deaths hit a monthly high in April, that was front-page news. But when US troop deaths fell in October to the lowest level in 17 months, that news was buried on page A-14 of the Washington Post and on page A-12 of the New York Times.

There has not been a successful suicide car bombing in Baghdad in 5 weeks and the few ones in recent months have been small and ineffective. There used to be four a day, many of which claimed scores of lives each. Young Iraqis are signing on to help bring peace and stability to their country. The news media, and many in our government, need to acknowledge the changes occurring in Iraq, and not remain, as Senator Joe Lieberman described them last week, “emotionally invested in a narrative of defeat and retreat!” Both sides of the House need to recognize the heroic efforts of our troops and stop allowing ill informed protesters and doom and gloom media to denigrate the importance of the real progress being made in Iraq. Also, they need to steer away from those who would foster bad news in order to promote their own political gain.

I will close by wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas as well as a Happy and prosperous New Year.

As always, keep our troops in your prayers as they fight the good fight in the war on terrorism. And, never forget FREEDOM IS NOT FREE!

FROM HOWARD BRANDT – 1^ST JR. VICE CMDR.

I attended the 2^nd District Meeting in Dayton at the VAMC. Second District Commander James Fortune and the men and Auxiliary did a great job. Our State Commander Robert Bertschy gave a good report on bringing the men up to date on the latest events.

Had horse racing at the Chillicothe VAMC that the Chapter #71 puts on every month, and their participation is wonderful. They really enjoy it.

For Veteran’s Day Services, I attended on the 8, 9, 11 and 12, the Adams County Schools and addressed the students and spoke at church and nursing homes for the Veterans Day activities that they had, and enjoyed talking with some of the WWII, Korean and Vietnam veterans.

I attended the North Adam’s High School for a Veterans Day observance with the students and faculty.

Information Bulletin

IMPORTANT NUMBERS