News From Senator Jenny Oropeza

[boardman]

News from Senator Jenny Oropeza

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Ray Sotero, Communications Director (916) 651-4028, or (916) 834-1128 cell or Ray.Sotero@sen.ca.gov

Thursday, Aug. 30, 2007

Message now goes to President Bush, Congress

Sen. Oropezas proposal urges feds fully fund veterans health care despite scheduled cuts

SACRAMENTO The Assembly today approved and sent to Washington, D.C., a resolution by state Sen. Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach, urging President Bush and the U.S. Congress to fully fund health care for service members. Our nations commitment when it comes to the men and women in uniform must be absolute and irrevocable, said Oropeza, who has had two family members serve in Iraq. The federal budget is shortchanging veterans. This is making it harder for them to get the care they need and too often provides poor quality care. This must stop.

According to separate legislative reviews on Senate Joint Resolution 9, the government plans to cut veterans health care and double prescription co-payments, under fund combat-related trauma centers, refuse expanded health benefits for National Guard members and do little to address a claims backlog.

The White House budget also recommends consecutive cutbacks in 2009 and 2010 followed by a freeze, even though the cost of providing medical care to veterans has grown annually by more than 10 percent.

The Vietnam Veterans of America South Bay Chapter 53 asked Oropeza to carry SJR 9. It received overwhelming bipartisan support in the Senate and Assembly where it was carried by Asm. Lori Saldana, D-San Diego.

For more, visit Oropezas Web site below. Elected to the Assembly in 2000 and the Senate in 2006, Jenny Oropeza is one of the highest-ranking Latinos in the Legislature and chairs the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee. For more, visit www.senate.ca.gov/oropeza

Ray Sotero Communications Director Sen. Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach Chair, Revenue and Taxation Committee Capitol Building, Room 4074 Sacramento, Calif., 95864 (916) 651-4028 www.senate.ca.gov/oropeza