Americans Voice Strong Support for Veterans Health Care and Benefits; Most Say
Veterans Issues Will Play Role in Election Decision
WASHINGTON, March 3, 2004/PRNewswire/ -- A new nationwide survey shows that
three out of four Americans (75 percent) believe veteran's health care should be
a "top to high funding priority" in the federal budget. Most Americans (87
percent) also support making veteran's health care funding mandatory.
This survey, conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International (PSRAI)
for Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Disabled American Veterans, shows that
74 percent of Americans surveyed believe that Congress and the President have a
very big responsibility to ensure that veterans receive their health care and
other benefits following their military service. Nearly all survey respondents
(95 percent) said veterans should not have to wait to receive their benefits.
Regarding veteran's issues and this year's elections, 82 percent stated that the
care of veterans is an issue that should be discussed by candidates to a "great
to moderate extent." Of the 1,000 Americans queried for the survey, 63 percent
of respondents also believe that veterans issues will play a "very big to
moderate part" in their decision about which candidates to vote for this fall.
"These findings resonate with our members -- the men and women who have served
their country honorably, yet often have great difficulty accessing the benefits
promised them by the government," stated Joseph L. Fox, Sr., PVA national
president. "It shows the American people place a high value on our service and
sacrifice on behalf of their country and will show that commitment at the ballot
box this November."
"The survey results confirm what we've believed all along: that a large majority
of Americans want the government to fulfill its obligation to provide timely
access to top-quality health care to veterans after they leave military
service. The American public believes funding for veterans health care should
be a national priority," said DAV National Commander Alan W. Bowers.
Interviews for this survey were conducted from February 20-25, 2004 among a representative sample of 1,000 Americans nationwide. The
margin of error for questions based on the total sample is +/-3 percentage
points. To view the survey's full results and independent analysis, access the
PVA Web site at www.pva.org and the DAV Web site at
www.dav.org .
Founded in 1946, Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), is the only
congressionally chartered veterans service organization dedicated solely for the
benefit and representation of individuals with spinal cord injury or disease.
PVA is a dynamic, broad-based organization with more than 20,000 members in all
50 states, the
District of
Columbia and Puerto Rico. To learn more about PVA, visit its Web site at
www.pva.org .
The 1.2 million-member Disabled American Veterans, a non-profit organization
founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932, represents this
nation's wartime disabled veterans. It is dedicated to a single purpose:
building better lives for our nation's disabled veterans and their families.
For more information, visit the organization's Web site
www.dav.org .
Princeton Survey Research Associates International is an independent research
company specializing in social and policy work. They design, conduct and
analyze surveys worldwide. Their expertise also includes qualitative research
and content analysis. With offices in Princeton, New Jersey, and Washington,
D.C., PSRAI serves the needs of clients around the nation and the world.
SOURCE Paralyzed Veterans of America
CO: Paralyzed Veterans of America; Disabled American Veterans; Princeton
Survey Research Associates International
ST: District of Columbia
SU: CPN SVY NPT
Web site: http://www.pva.org
http://www.prnewswire.com
03/03/2004
06:00 EST