WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio voted NO on the Republicans’ dangerous debt limit bill that threatens veterans, seniors, and families in Western Pennsylvania and across the country. Ahead of the vote, Congressman Deluzio joined fellow veterans and advocates at an event exposing Republicans’ massive cuts to veterans and their care. However, House Republicans nonetheless passed the bill without a single Democratic vote and with several Republican defections.
Following the passage of the bill, Rep. Deluzio released the following statement:
“Republicans’ 22% cuts to the VA means millions of veterans are going to suffer. If this becomes law, they’re going to get worse medical care on everything from cancer screenings to mental health services, and would have to wait longer to have their claims for disability resolved.
“It would risk funding for the Veterans’ Crisis Hotline and would result in an estimated 30 million fewer veteran outpatient visits and 81,000 jobs lost across the Veterans Health Administration, according to White House estimates. It means fewer doctors, fewer nurses, and less care for those who served.
“America owes a sacred debt to those willing to lay it all on the line. This Republican budget plan betrays that promise, and I am furious. I took to the House Floor today to tell the world just what this dangerous Republican plan would mean for veterans and the VA.
“Not only that, these 22% cuts would take away nutrition services, like Meals on Wheels, from more than a million seniors – and would make rail more dangerous and put communities like ours at risk. Republican cuts would result in 7,000 fewer rail safety inspection days and 30,000 fewer miles of tracks inspected each year.
“I came to Washington to put the Common Good first. These budget cuts that my Republican colleagues forced through the House today endanger our community, harm our seniors, and betray my fellow veterans. I hope that this plan is dead on arrival in the Senate, but I will do everything I can to stand up for veterans, for the people, and fight back against this lousy plan.”