Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
WORK FULL-TIME.
FULFILLING PRESIDENT LINCOLNS
CALL TO CARE FOR THOSE.
>> LET'S STEP AWAY FROM THIS.
I WANT TO GO BACK TO KEN FISHER
OF THE FISHER HOUSE.
HE PROVIDES HOUSING FOR MILITARY
FAMILIES DESPERATELY IN NEED.
HAS OFFERED TO GIVE MONEY TO --
GRANT MONEY TO REIMBURSE
MILITARY FAMILIES FOR DEATH
BENEFITS AND SUCH.
SO AS YOU'RE LISTENING TO THIS
HEARING AND THE POLITICIANS
TALK, WHAT'S GOING THROUGH YOUR
MIND?
>> WELL, A COUPLE OF THINGS,
ACTUALLY.
ONE, NOT ONCE IN ALL OF THIS
AND, YOU KNOW, I WORK VERY
CLOSELY WITH CHAIRMAN MILLER AND
OBVIOUSLY WITH THE SECRETARY,
NOT ONCE DID I HEAR ANYTHING
ABOUT THE DEATH BENEFITS AND THE
RESUMPTION OF THAT.
THAT MAYBE A DOD ISSUE OR A
CONGRESSIONAL ISSUE.
BUT NOT ONCE DID I HEAR IT.
TWO, IT POINTS OUT THAT, YOU
KNOW, THE LACK OF FLOW OF THE
INFORMATION IS DUE TO
BUREAUCRATIC SYSTEM THAT QUITE
FRANKLY IS JUST CHOKING.
YOU KNOW, THE ENTIRE VETERAN'S
HEALTH CARE AND THE WAY IT'S
ATSTERED, IT'S CHOKING.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I HOPE,
YOU KNOW, AS THIS SHUTDOWN, YOU
KNOW, COMES TO AN END, HOPEFULLY
IN A TIMELY FASHION, THAT IT'S
ADDRESSED.
YOU HEARD THE SECRETARY DISCUSS
THE BACKLOG IN BENEFITS AND HOW
THAT'S BEING ADDRESSED.
BUT THE ONE COMPELLING ISSUE IS
THAT WHEN A V.E.T., WHEN A
SERVICEMAN OR WOMAN RAISES THEIR
RIGHT HAND AND TAKES THE OATH TO
DEFEND THIS NATION, WE AS THE
PEOPLE ALSO TAKE AN OATH.
THAT IS, ONE, IF THEY'RE WOUNDED
WE WILL TAKE CARE OF THEM,
WHETHER PHYSICAL OR MENTAL.
AND TWO, IF THEY DON'T MAKE IT
HOME, WE'LL TAKE CARE OF THEIR
FAMILIES.
THE FACT THAT THE VA IS GOING
THROUGH THIS ISSUE AND IT'S
GOING TO IMPACT THE CARE AND
SERVICE, MAYBE NOT ON A HEALTH
BASE BUT IN OTHER BENEFITS IN
OTHER WAYS, IT'S JUST
UNACCEPTABLE GIVEN THE
SACRIFICES THAT THESE MEN AND
WOMEN HAVE ALREADY MADE.
>> IT'S THE LEAST WE CAN DO TO
MAKE SURE THEY'RE TAKEN CARE OF.
AND THANK YOU FOR HELPING THE
MILITARY FAMILIES, AT LEAST IN
THE SHORT-TERM.
HOPEFULLY YOU WON'T HAVE TO DO
THAT FOR MUCH LONGER.