ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION No. 159

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MAY 12, 1997

By Assemblyman AZZOLINA

An Assembly Resolution calling upon the United States Congress to pass H.R.1156, "The Veterans Medical Care Equity Act of 1997."

Whereas, H.R.1156, "The Veterans Medical Care Equity Act of 1997," introduced by Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen and 13 other members of Congress from New Jersey and New York, requires the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs to equitably fund federal veterans medical care programs; and

Whereas, In so doing, H.R.1156 would maintain funding levels for New Jersey's Lyons and East Orange veterans hospitals, whose functions the federal Department of Veterans Affairs wants to consolidate; and

Whereas, Congressman Frelinghuysen, a Vietnam veteran, was an early critic of the department's consolidation proposal and its plan to shift funding from northeastern states to southern and western states; and

Whereas, If the federal department's plan is effectuated, veterans service networks in the Northeast and Midwest might suffer up to 15% funding cuts; and

Whereas, H.R.1156 would require the federal Department of Veterans Affairs to fund veterans service networks in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 at a level equal to or greater than the amount received in fiscal year 1996; and

Whereas, H.R.1156 further provides than beginning in fiscal year 2000 and thereafter, veterans service networks would receive funding by a formula based on both the number of veterans residing in the geographic area of that service network and the medical services and administrative cost per veteran as determined by the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and

Whereas, H.R.1156 is a sound and sensible proposal to fund this nation's veterans medical care programs; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. This House calls upon the United States Congress to pass H.R.1156, "The Veterans Medical Care Equity Act of 1997," which requires the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs to equitably fund federal veterans medical care programs and which maintains funding levels for New Jersey's Lyons and East Orange veterans hospitals.

    2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk thereof, shall be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and every member of Congress elected from this State.

STATEMENT

    This resolutions calls upon the United States Congress to pass H.R.1156, "The Veterans Medical Care Equity Act of 1997," which requires the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs to equitably fund federal veterans medical care programs and which maintains funding levels for New Jersey's Lyons and East Orange veterans hospitals.

Calls upon U.S. Congress to pass H.R.1156, "The Veterans Medical Care Equity Act of 1997."