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Legislative Issues

Veterans

Offering Better Health Care for Veterans
by U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee

The Federal Government has broken trust with veterans when it comes to health care. It is time to do right by our veterans and ensure that they have the care that they deserve. The good news is that there are several key areas where Congress can act to restore that trust. First, Congress needs to fund the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) at a level that enables it to serve veterans effectively. Second, Congress must provide military retirees with the benefit of lifetime health care that Uncle Sam promised when they enlisted. Finally, Congress must ensure that "the system" is working for veterans and not against them as they attempt to receive benefits for service connected illnesses.

Historically, the VA budget has been a target for spending cuts. Last year, I joined other members of Congress in halting raids on the VA funds, and worked to increase the budget for the first time ten years. Furthermore, thanks to the efforts of many vocal veterans, this year’s budget is a vast improvement over any previous request. The "first draft" of the budget that recently passed in the House included a $2.1 billion increase in funds for the VA, much of which is earmarked for health care. I supported the increase and I will work to ensure that it stays in the final version of the budget. Our veterans need to have confidence in the health care that we promised to provide them.

As Congress ensures that the VA has the resources to provide quality health care, it must also ensure that this care is available to those who were told they would receive it. A veteran in my Congressional District furnished me with a copy of a recruiting brochure published in 1991 entitled "Army Benefits." Under a heading advertising "superb health care," the brochure states: "Health care is provided to you and your family members while you are in the Army, and for the rest of your life if you serve a minimum of 20 years of active federal service to earn your retirement." Imagine the surprise of those who serve for 20 years only to discover that the promised long-term health care is not available to them. I am proud to be a cosponsor of the Keep Our Promise to America's Military Retirees Act (H.R. 3573), which allows these veterans to enroll in the health care plan for federal civilian retirees. Unfortunately, despite wide bipartisan support, the leadership in the House has not yet allowed the bill has yet to come up for a vote. Veterans deserve this, and I will continue to view this legislation as a priority in Congress.

Finally, Congress needs to ensure"the system" is working for veterans and not against them. I have become involved with the issue of Hepatitis C (HVC) care in our state, because veterans suffer from HVC at a disproportionately higher rate than the rest of the population. Despite this, many veterans in our community are not being screened or treated for this disease. I am a cosponsor of the Veterans’ Hepatitis C Benefits Act (H.R. 1020), which bill makes it easier for veterans to establish that they contracted HVC while in service. I have also written a letter to the Undersecretary for Health at the VA urging him to increase the level of Hepatitis C screening and treatment in Washington State. Our entire Washington State Congressional delegation joined me in signing the letter.

Those who have devoted their lives in the service of our nation and those who made tremendous personal sacrifices should be taken care of in their time of need. As our veterans get older, we have the opportunity to pay them back for the service they provided for us. It is my hope and expectation that the 106th Congress will seize this opportunity to give back to our veterans.

Published in the Sun newspaper.