Veteran Issues Digest Number 1734

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1. Vote YES, Mandatory Funding of VA healthcare on February 5th Ballot

Posted by: "Colonel Dan" colonel-dan@sbcglobal.net coloneldan1

Tue Jan 29, 2008 8:56 am (PST)

Contact: Bruce E. Parry, Bruce@CoalitionofVe ts.org, 773-395-3559
910 W. Van Buren, Room 134 . Chicago, IL 60607
http://www.coalitio nofvets.org/

Press Conference with Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn at Pritzker Military Library on
Tuesday, January 29th at 1:30 PM on the Mandatory Full Funding of VA
Healthcare Referendum that appears on the February 5th Primary Ballot in
Cook and 21 other Illinois Counties.
Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Coles, DeKalb, Edgar, Grundy, Hardin,
Jasper, Jefferson, Jersey, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Lawrence, Marion, Richland,
Rock Island, Stephenson, Tazewell, and Woodford.
_____

MEDIA RELEASE

Mandatory Funding of VA healthcare on February 5th Ballot

Chicago-During the February 5th Presidential Primary, voters in Cook County
and 21 other counties in Illinois* will have the opportunity to vote for
Full Mandatory Funding of VA Healthcare. This advisory referendum will be on
every ballot-voters are encouraged to look on the back page of the ballot!

The Referendum tells the United States Congress that the voters of Illinois
want and expect the U.S. to properly fund healthcare for all
veterans-particular ly ensuring benefits for those returning from Iraq and
Afghanistan. Sadly we have not taken care of all those veterans! The VA
treats over 5.5 million veterans. Even so, Harvard University found that
more than 1.8 million veterans have no health care; they are excluded from
the VA. The disgrace is that veterans who have honorably served this country
are still turned away from the VA or have to pay for VA healthcare.

At present, veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are limited to 5
years of VA healthcare without charge for their care. It is questionable as
to what has happened to those veterans that served during Operation Enduring
Freedom that did not enroll in the VA when they were discharged in 2003.
Experience from past wars shows that it often takes veterans 10, 20 and even
30 years before they go to the VA. This happened with the Viet Nam veterans
and the VA was unprepared to deal with the influx of problems that were
residuals of that war. It has been 33 years since that war ended and VA will
soon see those veterans again in the system. There are 7.2 million living
"baby boomer" Viet Nam war veterans, and they will retire from the work
force in 5-10 years if they remain healthy. The odds are that when they see
the changes in their health care coverage as retirees, they will need help
too. Veterans that are currently being compensated for their war injuries
will more than likely see more health conditions existing as they
progressively age.

Veterans have paid for their healthcare. They paid through their honorable
service in the military, where they were promised VA healthcare without pay
for life. The VA gave it and then took it back from those war veterans that
previously received it for free. It is time for the VA to return to this
important and necessary standard. We urge every voter in Cook and the other
21 counties* holding this referendum to vote YES for Full Mandatory Funding
of VA Healthcare to tell the Congress this is what the American people want.

The exclusion of veterans to receive healthcare is a direct contributor to
homelessness, joblessness, and poverty. There is no greater disgrace than
the very existence of homeless and jobless veterans on our streets.
Healthcare problems are the number one reason for bankruptcy. They are a
reason that many people cannot work, and ultimately that cannot even get a
roof over their head. The VA is the largest, and one of the most effective
healthcare systems in the country. It has been noted for its computerized
system-wide ability to follow and treat veterans and to promote preventative
healthcare measures that save lives and money in the long run. VA is the
most cost effective healthcare system in the country: it is more economical
to care for and ensure every veteran has free comprehensive healthcare now,
than to wait for them to turn to the public healthcare system later. We must
stop denying healthcare services to millions of veterans. Congress must stop
using veterans as pawns each year to decide if it will increase necessary
spending to care for those who bore the battle.

Vote YES for Full Mandatory Funding of VA Healthcare this February 5th and
tell Congress that it is time to pass Mandatory Full Funding of VA
Healthcare for all Veterans.

* With Cook County, the other Illinois Counties voting on this referendum
are:

Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Coles, DeKalb, Edgar, Grundy, Hardin,
Jasper, Jefferson, Jersey, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Lawrence, Marion, Richland,
Rock Island, Stephenson, Tazewell, and Woodford.

###

WHO: Military veterans from various organizations; Montford
Point Marine

Association Chicago Chapter, American Legion,
Veterans Strike Force,

National Women Veterans United (NWVU), Triple Nickel
Parachute

Infantry Association, 24th Infantry Regiment,
Veterans of Foreign Wars IL

District 2, VetNet, Veterans for Unification, Korean
War Veterans

of America, AMVETS Chicago Chapter, Filipino-American Veterans of

Illinois, 173rd Airborne Brigade Elite Forces Chapter VI, Country Club

Hills Veterans Assistance Commission.

WHAT: Press Conference

WHEN: Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Pritsker Military Library

247 E Ontario St

Chicago, IL 60611

(312) 587-0234

"Keep on, Keepin' on"
Dan Cedusky, Champaign IL "Colonel Dan"
See my web site at:
http://www.angelfire.com/il2/VeteranIssues/