To: Veterans' Voting Bloc

From: Charles Heckman

Washington State Coordinator

Senator Cantwell has been sending these letters out to veterans in Washington. This state has the 12th largest veteran population in the country. It is a fact that the bulk of the veteran population is approaching the age at which medical care is most necessary and travelling is most difficult. Closing veterans' hospitals and creating delays for appointment is equivalent to a government-sponsored euthanasia to trim down the number of veterans needing government benefits. A splinter in the finger can result in death if the infection is not promptly treated.

In past letters, I have pointed out examples of theft and fraud by government employees, which have been ignored and not even subjected to an investigation. They are continuing. More than 20 years ago, the Department of Justice estimated that theft and fraud were already consuming about 10% of the entire Federal budget. Thanks to the merciless persecution of whistleblowers, this amount has substantially increased. On top of this, we see about $20 billion being spent on pork barrel projects. Maybe it is time to take some action and phone or write our representatives and senators to demand answers to our questions. Senator Cantwell has now requested that we do this so that our concerns can be heard in Washington D.C.

We know that closing down the Veterans' Employment and Training Service would save the government about $179,000,000 per year without causing inconvenience to any veteran. This agency, through its inactivity, has been responsible for hundreds of thousands of veterans becoming homeless. It could be effectively replaced by a law with provisions permitting veterans to bring their employment discrimination complaints to a Federal District court and denying the judge the privilege of granting summary judgement. This would force the judge to permit a jury to hear the veteran's complaints, giving him a fair chance of prevailing. The $179,000,000 would buy adequate medical treatment for a great many veterans. Disbandment of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, Merit System Protection Board, and similar agencies that have also proven themselves useless in protecting veterans' rights would save even more money.

We know that the money is there, and it is being stolen or misappropriated with impunity by unworthy people. It is time that Congress corrected the government's priorities. Let us write to Senator Cantwell telling her what inconveniences we would face if these medical facilities are closed.

Charles Heckman

     July 28, 2003

Mr. Charles Heckman

315 93rd Avenue Southwest

Olympia, Washington  98512

Dear Mr. Heckman:

Over the past two years, I have very much appreciated

the time that you have taken to share with me your

strong commitment to protecting and improving the lives

of veterans throughout our state and country.  I am now

writing to ask for your assistance in a matter that is

of grave concern to me, the potential closing of three

Veterans hospitals: American Lake, Vancouver, and the

Walla Walla VA Medical Center.

As you know, in December 2002, Anthony Principi, the

Secretary of Veterans Affairs, established the Capital

Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES)

Commission. The goal of the Commission is to provide

recommendations to the Secretary of the VA regarding

allocation of capital assets to meet the demand for

veteran's health care services over the next several

decades.  While I agree that it is essential that we

devote the appropriate resources to care for our

veteran's community, I am extremely concerned with a

recent proposal to close three of our Veterans hospitals.

I have heard from veterans across the state of the many

problems in the current VA health care system, including

delays in obtaining medical care, and the long distances

that many veterans must travel to obtain such care.  I

am concerned that closing three facilities in our state

will only exacerbate these problems.

It is my goal to guarantee that Washington state

veterans receive quality and affordable medical care

in an appropriate facility, as well as protecting the

jobs of those working in these facilities.

To help me in addressing these problems and assist in

opposing current proposals to close three of our VA

facilities, I am asking you to contact me with your

experiences at veterans' facilities throughout the

state, specifically American Lake, Vancouver and the

Walla Walla VA Medical Center.  As I have seen from

letters sent to me over the years, it is veterans and

the loved ones of veterans who are best able to

articulate the need for these hospitals.  My goal is to

use these letters as evidence when I approach the VA

about the need to retain these facilities.  I also will

be working with the Washington State Department of

Veterans Affairs which will be testifying on September

29, 2003 at the CARES Commission Public Field Hearing.

I hope that you will work with me to protect these

important facilities for the veterans' community.  If

you would not like me to share your response with the

VA or the CARES Commission, please let me know that as

well.

I am profoundly grateful for the service of America's

military personnel and for the sacrifices they have made

to defend and preserve our great nation.  As such, we

have an important responsibility to ensure that military

personnel and their families are provided benefits and

assistance that they have earned and so greatly deserve.

Please be assured that I will continue to work with my

colleagues on behalf of the many veterans in the State

of Washington.

I look forward to working with you on this important

issue.

Sincerely,

Maria Cantwell

United States Senator