[Peace-discuss] another war and Va can't do it right now

[Dlind49 at aol.com]

Department of Veterans Affairs Refuses to Follow the Law
Letter to Secretary Of Veterans Affairs
Michael Woods President NGWRC   

 

Honorable Anthony Principi Secretary of Veterans Affairs 810 Vermont Avenue, 
NW Washington, DC 20420 

Dear Secretary Principi: 

The National Gulf War Resource Center (NGWRC) is writing to ask the 
Department of Veterans Affairs to release up-to-date Gulf War veteran death 
and disability statistics. The NGWRC informally contacted the VA to ascertain 
the status of the report several months ago. The VA Research Advisory 
Committee on Gulf War Illnesses also asked for the report through Laura 
O'Shea.We have not been given any answer that explains why the VA is not 
meeting the statutory requirements of the law and it concerns me personally 
to think that the report is actually completed and has not been released 
because of the information it contains. 

Every three months, as required by law, the VA sends the NGWRC and Congress 
the "Gulf War Veterans Information System" report. This law was enacted 
because of your efforts as Deputy Secretary in 1992 (Public Law 102-585 
Sections 701 and 702). The last Gulf War statistics were released in February 
2002. The next release was due in May 2002. VA is now five months delinquent 
in distributing these critical statistics. 

These Gulf War statistics may provide key evidence about VA's ability to 
handle additional casualties from a second Gulf War. The NGWRC is concerned 
about the health of past and future Gulf War veterans deploying to Southwest 
Asia. 

We object strongly to President Bush's recent refusal to spend $275 million 
for much-needed healthcare. As a result of this budget cut, VA may not be in 
a position to provide adequate and prompt healthcare to current Gulf War 
veterans, let alone any additional casualties from a second Gulf War. 

Thank you for all you do for Gulf War veterans. Please excuse the 
extraordinary measure we have been forced to take in order to receive an 
answer on the Gulf War statistics from GWVIS. The NGWRC looks forward to 
working with you in the future on this and other important issues. If you 
have any questions regarding this letter, please contact Stephen Robinson, 
our Executive Director. 

Sincerely, 

Michael Woods President The National Gulf War Resource Center 
mwoods at ngwrc.org 

CC: VVA, VFW, Legion, AMVETS, PVA, DAV Sen. John Rockefeller, Sen. Arlen 
Specter Rep. Christopher Smith, Rep. Lane Evans