July 6, 1970
Page 22828
Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, in recent months a great deal of attention has been focused on a particularly distressing problem, the lack of adequate care for veterans in this country. There have been shocking reports and photographs of Veterans' Administration hospitals whose dire conditions seem impossible in this time of advanced technology, expertise, and modern medical equipment. Under the leadership of the able Senator from California (Mr. CRANSTON) the subcommittee on Veterans' Affairs has extensively investigated conditions in VA hospitals throughout the country. Its findings have underlined the immediate need for increased staffing, modernized surroundings, additional space and increased research and teaching space, so that every veteran will receive the proper treatment he may need and to which he is entitled.
We have a dedicated staff at the VA hospital in Togus, Maine. The Togus staff does an admirable job in administering to the needs of Maine veterans. However, improvements need to be made, for both the present and future needs of veterans. Although veterans with service-connected disabilities are being treated promptly, there is a considerable waiting list for veterans who have non-service-connected problems. Additional nursing care is needed as well as additional construction and more technical specialists. At least two more psychiatrists are needed and there is no neurosurgeon in residence. It is estimated that about $250,000 could be spent to alleviate backlogs, increase staffing and improve the overall functioning of the hospital.
I strongly support, and urge others to support, the increased appropriations of $100 million for VA appropriations contained in the Senate version H.R. 17548, which the Appropriations Committee reported on June 24. This increase of $100 million is the minimum required to begin to meet the needs of our veterans. It will not erase the problems that exist, but it is a vital step towards insuring every veteran in this country of adequate medical care to which he is entitled.
Mr. President, our veterans deserve the best medical care this country can offer. The increase of $100 million in VA appropriations is a necessity and one that must be passed to meet the needs of all eligible veterans.