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A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING CONGRESS TO FUND VETERANS' HEALTH CARE SERVICES

FULLY.

WHEREAS, the federal department of veterans affairs'

mission and motto is "to care for him who has borne the

battle, and for his widow and orphan"; and

WHEREAS, President George Washington stated, "The

willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in

any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly

proportionate to how they perceive the veterans of earlier

wars were treated and appreciated by their country"; and

WHEREAS, whenever the United States military has been

called upon to send forces into harm's way, including sons and

daughters of our great state, they have proudly answered the

call; and

WHEREAS, we, as United States citizens, have promised

our troops through military enlistment contracts

comprehensive, quality accessible health care for those

veterans honorably discharged from the United States military,

past, present and future; and

WHEREAS, although the legislative bodies of our

government at all levels have recognized the importance of

supporting those who serve our great country, legislation

itself has fallen short of meeting the health care needs of

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our veterans. The current discretionary funding mechanisms

for veterans' health care is beset by numerous flaws,

preventing many veterans from receiving the quality health

care they earned and deserve; and

WHEREAS, on March 16, 2006, the United States senate

voted down mandatory funding for veterans' health care

services that would have insured mandatory funding for our

veterans' health care needs; and

WHEREAS, a federal government accountability office

report in 2005 highlighted the lack of resources experienced

by the federal veterans health administration and its

understaffed workforce as they attempt to process an

increasing backlog of our veterans' claims; and

WHEREAS, Anthony Principi, former federal secretary of

veterans affairs, has publicly stated that the department of

veterans affairs has been struggling to provide promised

health care services to the rapidly rising number of veterans

requiring health care services;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that its members,

as proud citizens of this great nation, fully support

mandatory funding for veterans' health care services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United States house of

representatives and the United States senate be requested to

ensure that the health care obligations to our veterans be

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recognized and that legislation be introduced and passed for

signing by the president of the United States to guarantee

full mandatory funding of veterans' health care services; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be

transmitted to the president of the United States and to the

members of New Mexico's congressional delegation.