Scotch Plains, NJ – Mayor Martin Marks, Republican candidate for Congress in the Seventh District, again slams Washington for failing to address one of the most important concerns facing American veterans – adequate funding for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) health care system and related benefits programs.

“Providing for our military veterans and their families is a continuing cost of war and should be an important component of our national defense policy. Indeed, our commitment to take care of our veterans and their families is a reflection of our nation’s priorities and values. It is time for this Congress and this Administration to change course and fully fund the VA, cease trying to shift the costs of health care onto the backs of veterans,” said Martin Marks.

“Unfortunately, the budget requests have not kept pace with the demand for veterans’ health care.  The proposed Fiscal Year 2008 (FY08) budget once again has forced veterans to pay more out of their own pockets for health care, underestimates the needs of service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and under-funds key research, training, and management programs necessary to provide efficient and quality service to veterans,” explains Marks.

“New Jersey has one of the fastest growing veterans’ communities in the nation.  Our soldiers, veterans, and their families deserve nothing but the best from our government, sadly Washington is failing them. I am running for Congress because our government needs to ensure that veterans receive the retirement and health care benefits that they were promised when they enlisted," said Marks.

"As we speak, we have our brave men and women of our armed forces in harm’s way.  At moments such as these our heroes will at times return home with broken bodies and broken spirits.  At times they will not return home and leave broken families.  The way our heroic veterans have been treated by our government over the years has been a national disgrace.  If we can send billions of dollars overseas in foreign aid, if we can spend billions of dollars on a space program, and if we can spend billions of dollars on unneeded pork projects, then we can certainly provide for our veterans and their families, make them as whole as possible again, and give them the dignity that they so richly deserve," explained Marks.

“Whether or not you agree with U.S. policy in Iraq, the fact is that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan along with the aging of our World War II, Korea and Vietnam War veterans have increased demand for VA services. However, year after year Washington has provided inadequate funding for veterans’ health care. Each year the budgets include proposals to increase veterans’ co-payments and fees, essentially taxing certain veterans for their health care. Each year Washington fails to request what is needed for veterans programs, and relies on accounting gimmicks such as “management efficiencies” and inaccurate health care projections. Indeed, recently VA officials themselves acknowledged that greater funding was needed to care for our service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffering from mental health disorders and traumatic brain injuries."

“Our country has made a promise to care for those who have defended and protected our nation,” said Marks. “Our leaders in Washington must keep that promise by funding the essential programs that provide health care and support services for veterans," said Marks.

“America’s soldiers have done their part to protect America. It is time for Washington to provide adequate funding to ensure that our veterans returning home from tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and the heroes from our previous conflicts receive the care and benefits they have justly earned and deserve,” concluded Marks.

Martin Marks is a lifelong resident of the 7th Congressional District who shares the concerns and values of families and taxpayers. He is the only true conservative in the field for the Republican primary, and will bring core Republican principles on taxing, spending, national security and more back to Washington. For more information on Martin Marks, please visit www.MarksforCongress2008.com. 

Paid for by Marks for Congress