Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement in response to the veterans protest in Whatcom County.  Veterans throughout Whatcom County gathered to protest the lack of VA Healthcare in the county.

“Working on issues that affect Veterans is one of the most important responsibilities I have as a member of Congress.
 
“I am committed to making sure that the federal government is taking care of all veterans – including those veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Providing Veterans with the funding and resources they need is a top priority of mine.

“I recently spent a week in the 2nd Congressional District talking with veterans about VA healthcare.  I held workshops in Whatcom, Snohomish, and Island County and gave veterans an opportunity to address their health care questions and concerns to representatives from Veterans Affairs and TRICARE.

“Veterans in Northwest Washington are frustrated with the time it takes to travel down to the Seattle VA hospital in order to receive basic outpatient health care. 

“The 2nd Congressional district is home to over 75,000 veterans, many of which travel up to 100 miles to receive medical, dental, and mental health treatment from the Seattle VA Medical Center.  This cannot continue to be the only health care resource for veterans living in northwest Puget Sound.

“I am dedicated to securing a Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Northwest Washington.  During the veterans’ healthcare workshops it was encouraging to hear that the Puget Sound Department of Veterans Affairs understands these concerns and will submit an application requesting a CBOC in the north Puget Sound area.  I have been working hard to make this CBOC a reality.  I am excited by this development and will continue working with the VA to bring health care closer to where our veterans live.

“Our Veterans are also concerned about proposed fee increases to their health benefits.

“I strongly oppose the recent attempts by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to raise costs to Veterans through new and increased fees and payments.  I successfully fought against similar attempts last year, and will continue to fight against these misguided increases this year.

“The proposed FY2007 budget will raise health care costs for over 1 million U.S. veterans by increasing their co-payments for prescription drugs from $8 to $15 and imposing a new $250 annual enrollment fee.  These fees will drive at least 200,000 veterans out of the veterans’ health care coverage they were promised. 

“The budget also proposes to increase health care costs for military retirees enrolled in the TRICARE benefit program by raising enrollment fees and deductibles, and increasing pharmacy co-payments. 

“I am working hard to ensure that all of our veterans have access to the affordable health care they were promised.  I have co-sponsored legislation that will block increases to TRICARE health care premiums, deductibles, and co-payments; and I will continue to fight any budget proposal that attempts to limit veterans’ access to health care through new enrollment fees and increased co-payments.

“We must not cut and run from veterans’ and their health care.”

Congressman Larsen represents Washington State’s 2nd Congressional District.  The 2nd Congressional district is home to over 75,000 veterans, 16,700 of which reside in Whatcom County. 

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