SwiftVets.com

[h3digital]

Today we were handed one more example of how George Bush is breaking our nation's sacred bond with America's veterans.

According to an internal memo obtained by the Washington Post, George Bush's latest budget will cut more than $910 million from the Veteran Administration, which is already buckling under financial strain. Furthermore, in the last year George Bush has closed or drastically reduced services at 11 VA hospitals. At the same time, 500,000 veterans were asked to leave the rolls, and 200,000 veterans will leave due to rising costs. In a time of war, it is immoral and unconscionable to be treating our heroes of the past in this way.

As a fellow veteran, John Kerry will keep our nation's promises to those who served. He will eliminate the disabled veterans' tax, and he has a plan to take care of America's military families.

Please forward this email to other veterans. Terry McAuliffe and hundreds of veterans will hold a rally tomorrow morning in Washington, DC, to speak out against these cuts. You can be there in spirit by forwarding this email to fellow veterans and asking them to join Veterans for Kerry today:

http://www.johnkerry.com/signup/veterans.php

To view the details of John Kerry's record and his plan to protect our veterans, please visit:

http://www.johnkerry.com/communities/veterans

Forward this e-mail and let your friends know that George Bush is no friend to our nation's veterans.

Thank you,

John Hurley
National Director, Veterans for Kerry
_________________
Let the Truth be let out.

[nakona]

I don't know who you think you're fooling, but I know I ain't one of them.


Granted, ALL presidents should do more for vets, but if you're trying to tell me that Kerry would be a better friend to vets (and active duty) than Bush, you're barking up the wrong tree.
_________________
13F20P

[ASPB]

[waltjones]

The Bush admin has increased VA spending by 40% in the last 3 years. Clinton didn't even come close to that, and Kerry would be worse. Semper Fi!
_________________
Walt Jones (USMC, '65 - '69) It says much about the person who defends a man with no honor.

[h3digital]

when it happens, don't say i didn't warn ya, if bush wins.
_________________
Let the Truth be let out.

[The bandit]

Funny the VFW isn't reporting this propaganda. The post said the VA is getting a $500 million increase in 2005. The $910 decrease is in '06 is when the VA will have lowered its operating costs (which is good!)

[h3digital]

it's not 500 million, its 210 million, this is from CSPAN.ORG
_________________
Let the Truth be let out.

[rbshirley]

.
h3digital wrote:
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Today we were handed one more example of how George Bush is breaking
our nation's sacred bond with America's veterans.
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I am getting VERY peeved at the red herring that Kerry and his campaign
have been touting recently concerning the present and future of Veterans
Affairs. As evidenced by the statistics presented by this excellent govenment
agency, veterans have been, and will continue to be, a high priority of the
current administration.

The 4.8 million veterans that received health care in VA facilities in 2003 was
at least TWICE that recorded during any year of the Clinton era.

And note that the Bush administration is seeking a $5.6 billion INCREASE in
the funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs rather than the decrease
being bantered about as misinformation by the Kerry campaign.

On a personal note, I recently entered the system and have been absolutely
impressed with the capabilities and professionalism of the VA health care
system. During the past few weeks I underwent significant surgeries and was
treated in a very timely manner by professionals who CARE for EVERY veteran
that wishes to enroll. This, even though I am in the lowest priority category.

So to answer your "loaded" insinuation h3digital: "The veterans are being
treated with the respect and professional care they so richly deserve. Can we
TRUST Kerry to maintain this level of care? Based on his post-Vietnam rejection
of his own military service and those of us that {also} served honorably, I think
the issue is in doubt."

http://www.appc1.va.gov/opa/fact/vafacts.html

This second web page lists the current expansion activity for VA facilities
throughout the nation. Hardly a pull back of capabilities to serve veterans.

http://www.appc1.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressarchinternet.cfm

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May 2004

Facts about the Department of Veterans Affairs

The Department of Veterans Affairs was established on March 15, 1989,
succeeding the Veterans Administration. It is responsible for providing
federal benefits to veterans and their families. Headed by the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs, VA is the second largest of the 15 Cabinet departments
and operates nationwide programs for health care, financial assistance and
burial benefits.

Of the 26 million veterans currently alive, nearly three-quarters served
during a war or an official period of conflict.

The responsibility to care for veterans, spouses, survivors and dependents
can last a long time. The last dependent of a Revolutionary War veteran died
in 1911. Six children of Civil War veterans still draw VA benefits. About 440
children and widows of Spanish-American War veterans still receive Vetrans
Administration compensation or pensions.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

VA's fiscal year 2004 projected spending is $62.1 billion: $29.1 for health care,
$32.4 billion for benefits, and $143 million for the national cemetery system.
President Bush is seeking $67.7 billion in the fiscal year 2005 budget for VA,
a $5.6 billion increase in budget authority, primarily for health care and for
disability compensation.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Compensation and Pension

Disability compensation is a monetary benefit paid to veterans who are disabled by
injury or disease incurred or aggravated during active military service. Veterans
with low incomes who are permanently and totally disabled may be eligible for monetary
support through VA’s pension program. In fiscal year 2003, VA provided $26 billion
in disability compensation, death compensation and pension to 3.4 million people.
About 2.8 million veterans received disability compensation or pensions from VA.
Also receiving VA benefits were 568,146 spouses, children and parents of deceased
veterans. Among them are 147,291 survivors of Vietnam-era veterans and 272,883
survivors of World War II veterans.

Education and Training

Since the Vietnam-era, there have been approximately 2 million veterans, service
members, reservists and National Guardsmen who have participated in the Veterans’
Educational Assistance Program, established in 1977, and the Montgomery GI Bill,
established in 1985.

In 2003, VA helped pay for the education or training of 322,754 veterans and active
duty personnel, 88,342 reservists and National Guardsmen and 61,874 survivors.

Medical Care

Perhaps the most visible of all VA benefits and services is health care. From 54
hospitals in 1930, VA's health care system has grown to 158 hospitals, with at
least one in each of the 48 contiguous states, Puerto Rico and the District of
Columbia. VA operates 854 ambulatory care and community-based outpatient clinics,
132 nursing homes, 42 residential rehabilitation treatment programs and 88
comprehensive home-care programs. VA health care facilities provide a broad
spectrum of medical, surgical and rehabilitative care.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

More than 4.8 million people received care in VA health care facilities in 2003.
By the end of fiscal year 2003, 78 percent of all disabled and low-income veterans
had enrolled with VA for health care; 65 percent of them were treated by VA. In 2003,
VA inpatient facilities treated 742,000 patients, including 92,516 in VA nursing homes
and 45,207 in residential care facilities. VA’s outpatient clinics registered nearly
49.8 million visits.

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

To receive VA health care benefits most veterans must enroll. Nearly 7.2 million veterans
were enrolled in the VA health care system as of October 2003. When they enroll, they are
placed in priority groups or categories that help VA manage health care services within
capability constraints and ensure quality care for those enrolled.

Research

In 2003, funding for VA research was $392 million. Another $403 million from VA's medical
care account supports research efforts. Funding from non-VA sources, such as the National
Institutes of Health, other government agencies and pharmaceutical companies, contributed
another $656 million to VA research. VA currently conducts more than 10,000 research projects
at more than 100 VA medical centers.

Home Loan Assistance

In fiscal year 2003, VA guaranteed 508,436 loans valued at $65 billion. VA’s programs for
specially adapted housing helped about 550 disabled veterans with grants totaling more than
$22 million last year.

Insurance

In 2003, the VA life insurance programs returned $569 million in dividends to 1.5 million
veterans holding some of these VA life insurance policies, and paid an additional $2.42 billion
in death claims and other disbursements.

VA Employees

As of January 31, 2004, VA had 232,172 employees on the rolls. Among all departments and agencies
of the federal government, only the Department of Defense has a larger work force. Of the total
number of VA employees, 210,432 were in the Veterans Health Administration, 12,962 in the Veterans
Benefits Administration, 1,498 in the National Cemetery System, 3,193 in the Veterans Canteen Service
and 425 in the Revolving Supply Fund. The rest -- 3,662 employees -- are in various staff offices

VA is a leader in hiring veterans. About 52 percent of all male employees are veterans. As of
January 31, 2004, VA had 9,786 women employees who served in the U.S. armed forces. About 57
percent of male and 28 percent of female veteran employees served during the Vietnam War. More
than 7 percent of all VA employees are disabled veterans and four hold the Medal of Honor.
.
.

[xsquid]

Don't even expect facts to get in the way of this guys partisan hatred.
_________________
11 years US navy.

[The bandit]

[DELTREE]

J.Fonda Kerry helped us once before remember: NO THANKS!!
Read This:
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=38738

GOD HELP US WITH SO CALLED FRIENDS LIKE THIS!!

[DanVCC]

Kerry now says he is a pro vet Senator yet see this:

Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 2710 to S.Con.Res. 95 (Budget Appropriations, FY2005 resolution )
Statement of Purpose: To create a reserve fund to allow for an increase in Veterans' medical care by $2.7 billion and lower the national debt by reducing the President's tax breaks for taxpayers with incomes in excess of $1 million a year.
Vote Counts: YEAs 44
NAYs 53
Not Voting 3

Kerry was one of the 3 who did not vote

[waltjones]

h3analog: You seem to be real good at pasting Democratic talking points, and then when they are totally refuted by facts, you aren't able to respond with anything substantive, just crap like "don't say I didn't warn you, if bush wins ...". Warn me about what??? Kerry would be bad for the military and bad for vets, period. He's more liberal than Clinton ever imagined being, and look what Clinton did to the military, who, by the way, hated him! Read Dereliction of Duty for details on that. Kerry would be even worse, and it's too bad your rabid partisanship can't allow you to see what's best for the country. Thatisall .....
_________________
Walt Jones (USMC, '65 - '69) It says much about the person who defends a man with no honor.

[Doc Jerry]

H3:

Nice try, but let's take a brief look at the facts of what we already know about your buddy Kerry:

...Maligned and slandered an entire generation of veterans.
...Self-professed war criminal
...Voted against military pay raises 12 times.
...Just this week, missed another important vote on funding for Iraq and troop support.

I suggest you seek some professional help. You're seriously delusional (but then so is your buddy Kerry).

[Theresa Alwood]

You just make me laugh! Not all vets listen to the liberal media and only the liberal media. The liberal media, after all, thinks most of us vets are just too stupid or too poor to make it in the real world. Some of us do actually read the paper and read other sources than the funnies or the New York Times. Most of us are aware of what is going on in the world as it directly affects us. While I may not be able to spell the big words you do, I have the common sense that God gave me to know that it is George W. Bush who respects the men and women of the Armed Forces and it is George W. Bush who will the the majority of the military votes. I may only be a lowly female vet who only served 4 years, but I am also a spouse of a retired vet who served 22! I have lived the life of active duty and that of a military spouse who does understand what it means by God, Honor, and Country...something John Kerry does not. Ask all those Vietnam war vets who keep telling you that they are NOT voting for your candidate....they will tell you that John "F" Kerry is a disgrace to any military uniform...and I am thankful he was not part of the Air Force and feel sorry for the Navy. So do not think that Senator Kerry will be getting the majority of the military votes. All my friends who are still active duty and most who are retired are all voting for George W. Bush. So I am just going to read your silly comments and laugh. It is not worth my time or effort to put much else into it than that! My effort is going to make sure everyone else is aware of WHO John Kerry really is and what a bad choice for America he will be.

I remember in the 80's when all we heard about was how horrible of a President Ronnie was. We heard what a Cowboy, he was just an actor, he was just going to cause WW III with his belief that America would prevail over communism. Today we remember Ronnie with much love and affection, especially those of us who served. WE cheered as he bombed Lybia (and if I remember correctly this was the LAST word her heard from Lybia until President Bush went to Iraq and we got their weapons of WMD), we jeered at France for not allowing us to use their air space (seems the French are forever opposing the good guys)....seems to me that not much changes in the course of time...only the names. Ronnie made Americans be proud again....and if I remember correctly it was the day Ronnie got elected that Iran let the hostages free...they were too afraid of Ronnie but they never did they fear from the democrat President, Carter. So as we republicans mourn our great President...I am hoping people will remember what Ronnie did for this country, so can George. The likeness between the two are much striking...and maybe we can get President Bush to take 49 states also. We can push the vet votes...and trust me I see more vets for Bush than ever.