BILL REQ. #:  S-1040.2 

Read first time 02/13/2007.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, There are over 670,000 veterans who choose to make the State of Washington their home; and
     WHEREAS, During recent conflicts, more men and women have stepped up to join the ranks of those who unhesitatingly came forward to offer their lives in the service of our country; and
     WHEREAS, The recent escalation of troops will require even more brave individuals to make sacrifices for their nation; and
     WHEREAS, These sacrifices must not be made only by those on the front lines, but instead, the country as a whole must make whatever sacrifices it needs to shelter, support, educate, nurture, and heal those who have returned home and their families; and
     WHEREAS, A 2006 federal study has determined that over 19 percent of soldiers returning from Iraq have been diagnosed with mental health problems; 20,000 have been wounded; and over 3,000 will not return to their families at all; and
     WHEREAS, The backlog of compensation claims at the United States Department of Veterans Affairs has grown from 363,412 in December of 2000 to 589,583 in September of last year, an increase of nearly 50 percent, while the staffing of the Veterans Benefits Administration remained nearly the same; and
     WHEREAS, Our veterans often wait years for the medical care or other benefits they need; and
     WHEREAS, It is imperative that Washington State receive adequate federal resources to support its current and future veterans in the manner they deserve;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the President and Congress fund the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and stop the erosion of benefits for Washington State's veterans.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.