PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 814 PRINTER'S NO. 917
No. 42 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY O'PAKE, BRIGHTBILL, STACK, COSTA, LAVALLE,
HELFRICK, LOGAN, WAGNER, TARTAGLIONE, MUSTO, THOMPSON, BELL,
KUKOVICH, TILGHMAN, MOWERY, GREENLEAF, SCHWARTZ, BOSCOLA,
EARLL, FUMO, STOUT, KITCHEN AND HUGHES, MARCH 27, 2001
SENATOR CONTI, INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, AS AMENDED,
APRIL 23, 2001
A RESOLUTION
1 Memorializing the President and the Congress of the United
2 States to take steps to reduce the long waiting list for
3 veterans to see a physician to obtain benefits at Veterans
4 Administration medical centers.
5 WHEREAS, All Americans owe a great debt of gratitude to our
6 military veterans for their brave and unselfish service to
7 protect and defend the United States and all of its citizens;
8 and
9 WHEREAS, Many World War II and Korean War veterans are
10 retired and some have serious health problems that require
11 prompt attention; and
12 WHEREAS, It is estimated that 16% of the 700,000 veterans
13 from the Persian Gulf War are receiving disability compensation
14 and/or treatment which further compounds the pressure on an
15 already strained health service delivery system; and
16 WHEREAS, Some of these veterans are waiting seven to ten
17 months to become eligible for benefits to which they are
1 entitled; and
2 WHEREAS, Recent news accounts indicate that approximately <--
3 4,600 veterans are on a waiting list to see a physician for OVER <--
4 THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS THE WAITING LIST TO SEE A PHYSICIAN FOR
5 initial approval of benefits at the Lebanon Veterans
6 Administration Medical Center alone; therefore be it HAS GROWN <--
7 TO APPROXIMATELY 4,600 VETERANS; AND
8 WHEREAS, IT IS BELIEVED THAT THE SAME OR SIMILAR SITUATION
9 EXISTS AT OUR OTHER VETERANS ADMINISTRATION MEDICAL CENTERS
10 THROUGHOUT THIS COMMONWEALTH AND OUR NATION; THEREFORE BE IT
11 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
12 memorialize the President and the Congress of the United States
13 to take steps to reduce the waiting lists THAT HAVE DEVELOPED <--
14 OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS and end the outrageous UNFORTUNATE <--
15 delay of benefits that have been earned by the deserving
16 veterans of our United States military services; and be it
17 further
18 RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to
19 the President of the United States, to the presiding officers of
20 each house of Congress and to each member of Congress from
21 Pennsylvania.
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