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HOUSE MEMORIAL 79

48

TH

LEGISLATURE

- STATE OF NEW MEXICO -

FIRST SESSION

, 2007

INTRODUCED BY

Elias Barela

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING CONGRESS TO FUND VETERANS' HEALTH CARE SERVICES

FULLY.

WHEREAS, the federal department of veterans affairs'

mission and motto is "to care for him who has borne the battle,

and for his widow and orphan"; and

WHEREAS, President George Washington stated, "The

willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in

any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly

proportionate to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars

were treated and appreciated by their country"; and

WHEREAS, whenever the United States military has been

called upon to send forces into harm's way, including sons and

daughters of our great state, they have proudly answered the

call; and

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WHEREAS, we, as United States citizens, have promised our

troops through military enlistment contracts comprehensive,

quality accessible health care for those veterans honorably

discharged from the United States military, past, present and

future; and

WHEREAS, although the legislative bodies of our government

at all levels have recognized the importance of supporting

those who serve our great country, legislation itself has

fallen short of meeting the health care needs of our veterans.

The current discretionary funding mechanisms for veterans'

health care is beset by numerous flaws, preventing many

veterans from receiving the quality health care they earned and

deserve; and

WHEREAS, on March 16, 2006, the United States senate voted

down mandatory funding for veterans' health care services that

would have insured mandatory funding for our veterans' health

care needs; and

WHEREAS, a federal government accountability office report

in 2005 highlighted the lack of resources experienced by the

federal veterans health administration and its understaffed

workforce as they attempt to process an increasing backlog of

our veterans' claims; and

WHEREAS, Anthony Principi, former federal secretary of

veterans affairs, has publicly stated that the department of

veterans affairs has been struggling to provide promised health

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care services to the rapidly rising number of veterans

requiring health care services;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that its members, as

proud citizens of this great nation, fully support mandatory

funding for veterans' health care services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States house of

representatives and the United States senate be requested to

ensure that the health care obligations to our veterans be

recognized and that legislation be introduced and passed for

signing by the president of the United States to guarantee full

mandatory funding of veterans' health care services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the president of the United States and to the

members of New Mexico's congressional delegation.

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