HR-53, As Adopted by House, June 14, 2007

            Reps. Jackson, Agema, Bieda, Brown, Byrnes, Casperson, Caswell, Cheeks, Clack, Condino, Constan, Cushingberry, Dean, Gonzales, Green, Hammel, Hammon, Hansen, Hopgood, Johnson, Rick Jones, Robert Jones, Kathleen Law, LeBlanc, Leland, Lemmons, Marleau, Mayes, McDowell, Meadows, Miller, Moss, Nofs, Opsommer, Polidori, Sak, Schuitmaker, Sheltrown, Spade, Stahl, Steil, Tobocman, Vagnozzi, Valentine, Warren and Wojno offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 53.

            A resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to increase funding for veterans health programs and to reform budget practices to assure that veterans health care needs are addressed by direct rather than discretionary funding.

            Whereas, Providing medical care for the men and women who risk their lives in defense of our nation is a most important responsibility. While this is always true, the significance of this task should be eminently clear as our armed forces are engaged in battle; and

            Whereas, Funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs is determined each year by the Congress as part of discretionary spending. This budget is seriously under funded each year. This chronic under funding has a direct impact on the level of services available to our injured veterans. Currently, nearly 90 percent of federal health care spending is carried out through direct, rather than discretionary funding; and

            Whereas, The Department of Veterans Affairs has the nation's largest health care system, with more than 150 hospitals, hundreds of clinics, nursing homes, residential rehabilitation treatment programs, and specialized services to deal with the most horrific and widest range of injuries. Recent rises in demand for health care services have far outpaced spending; and

            Whereas, The American people owe our returning veterans proper health care services to address the injuries they sustain in defense of our freedoms. Quality health care for those injured in service to the country should not be subject to the annual fluctuations of a budget process that is often held hostage to politics. Clearly, the care of our wounded must be a top priority; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to enact legislation to increase funding for veterans health programs and to reform budget practices to assure that veterans health care needs are addressed by direct rather than discretionary funding; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.