Atlanta, GA -- Michael Coles, today, reiterated his opposition to Congress’ latest attempt to cut veterans’ health care benefits. Both the House and the Senate have included a $10.5 billion cut to such benefits in their current legislation to fund the Intermodal Surface Transportation Act (ISTEA). Coles noted that “this money had already been promised to veterans to treat their smoking-related illnesses. Now Congress is about to break that promise.” Coles criticized Paul Coverdell for voting both for and against this cut to veterans’ health care. Although Coverdell sided with the veterans on some earlier votes on this issue, he ultimately voted for the 1999 Senate Budget Resolution (Senate Conference Resolution #86, 4/2/98, Vote #84) which mandated that the $10.5 billion cut be part of the ISTEA legislation. The Senate Budget Resolution passed by a vote of 57-41. “Although maintaining and improving our nation’s roads and expanding our mass transit systems are important issues, we cannot do so by breaking promises to our nation’s veterans,” said Coles. “The promises we made to our veterans must be the promises we keep, and those promises include providing them with proper health and retirement benefits.” # # # |
