Pelosi Remarks on Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of
2009
WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi and
Democratic and Republican Members of Congress joined representatives from
Veterans Service Organizations for a photo opportunity on the Veterans Health
Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act this afternoon in the Speaker's
Office. The legislation, a top priority for Veterans Service Organizations and
Congress, authorizes appropriations for Veterans Affairs Department medical
care programs one year in advance of the start of each fiscal year, beginning
in 2011. At the event, Speaker Pelosi signed the legislation, which will now
be sent to President Obama for his signature. Below are the Speaker's remarks:
"Good afternoon. This is a happy day for us because we are making progress for
our veterans. This landmark legislation upholds our commitment to our nation's
veterans, to the men and women who serve overseas so that we can know safety
here at home. The support of 409 Members -- a very, very strong bipartisan
show of support -- shows that they care for our veterans here in the Congress
in a very bipartisan way. I am joined by the Chairman of the Veterans Affairs
Committee, Congressman Bob Filner of California, and Congressman Chet Edwards
of Texas, who is the chair of the Appropriations subcommittee for our
veterans. I am also pleased to be joined by Congressmen Henry Brown and John
Boozman, our Republican colleagues.
"Again, with this message we are ensuring that the VA can more effectively
plan for the future and our veterans will have the sources of care and support
they have earned. I am proud to stand by the side of so many of our colleagues
and so many veterans who are with us, America's veterans groups and veterans
organizations. We reiterate a solemn promise to the members of our armed
forces: just as the military pledges never to leave a soldier behind on the
battlefield, when they come home we will leave no veteran behind.
"I am honored to sign the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency
Act of 2009. And I am going to do it with many pens."
SOURCE Office of the Speaker of the House
Brendan Daly, Nadeam Elshami or Drew Hammill, +1-202-226-7616
