Veterans Health Care Resolution Sent to President and Congress

Resolution requests guaranteed funding for veterans and reinstatement of benefits

Veterans organizations have advocated for a mandatory funding mechanism that takes into account the actual cost for providing services to veterans. A recent study commissioned by the American Veterans, Disabled American Veterans, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars stated, "It is imperative that Congress make veterans health-care funding mandatory so that enrolled veterans have access to high quality health-care services in a timely manner."

"The current discretionary funding system consistently falls short of the actual need and has led to the rationing of health care for veterans. With all their sacrifices, this is no way to repay them for their service," said Wolk.

AJR 71 also urges the President and Congress to restore medical eligibility to veterans in Priority Group 8. Currently, veterans are categorized by priority groups with those classified as Priority Group 1 having the highest priority and Priority Group 8 having the lowest. The funding shortage has led the Department of Veteran Affairs to suspend new enrollment of Priority 8 veterans. It is estimated that 19,000 veterans assigned to Priority Group 8 in California are not being served due to the suspension.

"It is important we send a message to the President and Congress that we must take care of our veterans who sacrificed to take care of us," concluded Wolk.

Wolk introduced the measure at the request of Carl Young, a local veterans advocate and Richard Lundin, a member of the Senior Legislature, and who himself is a veteran. The measure was co-sponsored by the Senior Legislature and supported by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Department of California and the California State Commanders Veterans Council, which is comprised of over 16 veterans organizations in the state.