Texas Veterans to Rally for Better Benefits

ROSENBERG, Texas, April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Ever mindful of the veterans of tomorrow, who are sacrificing for freedom in Iraq and elsewhere, Texas leaders of The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans will hold a town hall meeting here in which they invite veterans to learn how they can help to protect their health care benefits. The town hall meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Monday, April 21, at American Legion Post 271, 4520 Highway 36 South.

VA health care benefits, according to organizers, were promised by the government yet have been reduced due to years of inadequate Department of Veterans Affairs health care budgets. VA's own statistics show that there are more than 200,000 U.S. veterans currently waiting at least six months for their primary health care appointments. Funding shortfalls have led to a rationing of health care through reduced services, lengthy delays and veterans being turned away completely, officials of the veterans service organizations say.

National office representatives of the three major veterans groups will explain VA's budget problems and how those problems have curtailed veterans' health care. Organizers invited Texas congressional representatives to attend.

SOURCE  American Legion 

CO:  American Legion; U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs; VA; Veterans of      Foreign Wars; Disabled American Veterans

ST:  Texas

SU:  EXE

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04/17/2003 09:42 EDT