Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Vow Accountability for Failure to Override Bush Veto on Veterans Spending
By VoteVets.org
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Press Release
PUBLISHED: November 16, 2007
IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETERANS VOW ACCOUNTABILITY FOR FAILURE TO OVERRIDE BUSH VETO ON VETERANS SPENDING
WASHINGTON - The largest political group of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans today reacted angrily to news that the House of Representatives failed to get the 2/3 vote needed to override President Bush's veto of spending for military veterans.
"It is unconscionable, with estimates of problems veterans face getting worse every day that so many in Congress would fail to stand up to this President on behalf of our nation's veterans," said Jon Soltz, Iraq War veteran and Chairman of VoteVets.org. "It honestly makes those of us who served this nation feel worthless. Virtually every Member who voted to sustain the veto voted to send us to war, and it is offensive that they think of us as pieces on a chessboard, not worthy of care."
"We will do everything in our power to ensure that the constituents of those who voted with the President and against the troops and veterans know how hostile their Member of Congress is to those who wore the uniform," he concluded.
The Labor-HHS-Education spending bill included:
- $3.4 billion for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), which provides mental health and suicide prevention services, much of it for troops and veterans.
- $10 million for treating Brain Injury Prevention for our veterans.
- $5.2 billion for Veteran Job Training and placement programs, as well as homelessness prevention programs that benefit our veterans.
This week, a new study by the Journal of the American Medical Association found that mental injuries for those who served in Iraq is much greater than estimated, because of the late-developing nature of such trauma. Earlier in the year, an Army study found that the suicide rate among Army veterans and soldiers was at its highest rate in over 25 years. Traumatic brain injuries have been found at a much higher rate than in past wars.
Paid for VoteVets Political Action Committee. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. VoteVets Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) organization which primarily focuses on nonpartisan education and advocacy on behalf veterans and their families. VoteVets Political Action Committee is a federal political committee which primarily helps elect Iraq and Afghanistan war veteran candidates and educates about veterans and military issues aimed at influencing the outcome of the next election.