John Kerry's position on

Veteran Benefits: An overhaul in funding of the Veterans Administration (VA) is necessary as countless veterans across the country are fighting to receive basic benefits and services. Service-connected disabled veterans are being denied access to healthcare because of income guidelines or cannot receive adequate healthcare because of antiquated VA facilities. 

Description of candidate's position: As a decorate veteran, Kerry believes that it is American's duty to take care of those who have fought for our country. Kerry supports mandatory funding by the government to extensively overhaul the VA, benefits, and services making VA healthcare an entitlement program open to all vets. "By enacting a Military Family Bill of Rights, Kerry and Edwards will ensure that today's men and women in uniform receive adequate pay and full health care coverage (including access to TRICARE), while ensuring that our military is never overstretched and that our troops are always fully equipped for the missions they face" Kerry website.

Quotation from the candidate: "Our military families have the right to expect real leadership of the armed forces from the Commander-in-Chief. They have a right to competitive pay and quality housing, decent health care and dental care. Quality education for their children. First rate training. The best possible weaponry and state-of-the-art equipment. They have a right to timely deployment information. And they have a right to know that, in the event of tragedy, help will be there to care and provide for their families and for them". March 17, 2004 link

Assessment of proposal:

Positive: In a letter to families of veterans, Veterans Against the Iraq War, a non-profit organization committed to saving lives and ending violence in Iraq, stated that "we approve of John Kerry's plans to help the troops who are at war now and who will soon become veterans of the future. John Kerry 'will deliver the health care and prescription drugs that veterans need' and 'will grant full concurrent receipt to disabled veterans and fairly compensate soldiers and their families for their valiant service.' We approve of John Kerry's plans for all veterans and their health care needs. John Kerry 'will insist on mandatory funding for veterans health care.' He said 'veterans will get the needed appointments with VA doctors and the federal government will invest the resources necessary to make sure that no veteran has unmet health care need' ". Veterans Against Iraq War website.

Negative: In a letter of endorsement, Artie Muller President of Rolling Thunder, a national organization that is committed to helping veterans of all wars stated, "We are grateful for the President's leadership in honoring our nation's commitment to veterans. We appreciate his leadership in the War on Terror and in protecting our homeland against those who threaten our freedoms and way of life. We will put our manpower and resources to work to ensure four more years of our President Bush's leadership. This is our way of thanking this President for his commitment to increasing access to housing and health care services for all veterans, reducing the disability claims backlog and overseeing the largest expansion of our national cemetery system since the Civil War". Bush website.

Another commentator suggests: "This is where Mr. Kerry comes in with a promise to "lead the fight" for "mandatory funding" for health care for all veterans. That sounds nice on the stump, but in practice it would make veteran benefits look a lot more like Medicare and a lot less responsive to changing veteran needs. It could also cost as much as $165 billion through 2008, according to Congressional Budget Office estimates. More federal money is almost always the answer in Washington, but it's rarely the cure." link

Comparison: Kerry agrees with Bush in that an extensive overhaul of funding is necessary to provide sufficient benefits and services to America's veterans. Kerry feels that the only way to ensure veterans will receive adequate compensation, healthcare benefits and services are by enacting the Military Family Bill of Rights and mandatory funding of the Veterans Administration. Kerry feels that mandatory funding and the Military Family Bill of Rights will ensure America keeps its promise that "if you take care of us and our country, we'll take care of you". Kerry website

Link to Bush's Issue Brief.