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Senate
Resolution 353
By:
Senators Hill of the 4th and Douglas of the 17th
ADOPTED
SENATE
A
RESOLUTION
Urging
Congress to oppose current budget proposals which would be damaging to Georgia
veterans who depend on the state veterans homes; and for other
purposes.
WHEREAS,
the federal budget proposal for fiscal year 2006 for the federal Department of
Veterans Affairs contains proposed changes having the goal of refocusing
veterans medical services in such a manner as to exclude from care many veterans
now receiving these services and who will continue to need them in the coming
years; and
WHEREAS,
although the budget proposal professes that current patients receiving nursing
home care will continue to receive care until discharge, in fact there are no
plans to provide for such continuing care; and
WHEREAS,
if the budget proposal is adopted as proposed, 70 percent of the veterans now
receiving care face eviction from the veterans homes, and many will be turned
out into the street or encounter other situations where their needs will not be
met; and
WHEREAS,
the image of placing veterans in situations that may cause them to undergo
homelessness and poverty is disgraceful, and the idea of veterans with
ambulatory
Alzheimeŕs
disease living in nonsecure locations where they may become victims of crime,
vehicle accidents, exposure to the elements, and similar catastrophes is
scandalous; and
WHEREAS,
these veterans gave a part of their lives, often a large part, so we can live in
opulence, and the least we can do is care for them in their time of
need.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body urge the
United States Congress to amend the budgetary provisions that would be so
damaging to the most needy of our veterans.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to the Georgia Congressional
Delegation.