MEDICAL AND DENTAL PROGRAMS OF HEARINGS BEFORE THE START MAR 16 1953 COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS EIGHTY-THIRD CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON TESTIMONY OF OFFICIALS OF THE VETERANS' ADMINIS- MEDICAL PROGRAM FOR VETERANS 30158 FEBRUARY 18, 19, AND 25, 1953 Printed for the use of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs Pages of all hearings are numbered cumulatively to permit a UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON: 1953 COMMITTEE ON VETERANS' AFFAIRS EDITH NOURSE ROGERS, Massachusetts, Chairman JOE L. EVINS, Tennessee W. J. BRYAN DORN, South Carolina ELIZABETH KEE, West Virginia BERNARD W. (PAT) KEARNEY, New York OLIN E. TEAGUE, Texas PETER FRELINGHUYSEN, JR., New Jersey ALBERT W. CRETELLA, Connecticut II GEORGE S. LONG, Louisiana HARLAN HAGEN, California JAMES A. BYRNE, Pennsylvania D. R. (BILLY) MATTHEWS, Florida KARL STANDISH, Chief Clerk Ayres, Hon. William H.. CONTENTS Page 140, 211, 215, 216 133 137, 152, 153, 155, 157, 160, 180, 181, 182, 233, 234 Baker, J. D. (See Veterans' Administration.) Fauber, Dr. John. (See Veterans' Administration.) Fino, Hon. Paul A.. Frelinghuysen, Hon. Peter, Jr. 141, 165, 234, 235 141, 142, 156, 157, 158, 218, 219, 220, 221 137, 138, 139, 140, 141, 148-150, 151, 160-167, 172–174 Form, for admission__. History of VA hospital program_ History of $31,000,000 cut-_ 116, 127, 129, 130-132, 134-139, 141, 144, 145, 147, 151, 152, 154, 159-162, 166, 167, 172–175, 177, 178, 207, 211, 214, 217, 236, Rosen, David. (See Veterans' Administration.) Selden, Hon. Armistead I., Jr.. Springer, Hon. William L.......... MEDICAL AND DENTAL PROGRAMS OF THE VETERANS' ADMINISTRATION WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1953 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Washington, D. C. The committee met, pursuant to call, at 10:30 a. m. in room 356, Old House Office Building, Hon. Edith Nourse Rogers (chairman), presiding. The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order. I would like first of all to read a brief statement indicating why we asked Mr. McNamara of the Bureau of the Budget to come to the meeting this morning. When we held our meeting on February 4, at which time General Gray and Admiral Boone appeared, I indicated at that time that we would hear Admiral Boone at a later date to discuss in some detail the medical program. He agreed to come here this morning, and we are happy to have him with us. During the hearings on yesterday we received the 1953 legislative program of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. There was considerable discussion involving the $31 million cutback in Veterans' Administration medical funds and the restoration of $5 million of that sum now pending in the supplemental appropriations bill. This bill is scheduled for debate and consideration on the House floor this afternoon, and that is why there was need to get all the information we can. It is my understanding that after the $31 million cut was applied, the Veterans' Administration presented several different estimates to the Bureau of the Budget, and that these estimates were first $31 million; then $23 million; then $16 million; and finally $5 million. From information that has come to me, it seems likely that the Veterans' Administration actually felt that $15 million was the correct amount which it should receive, if the medical program is to operate on a reasonably satisfactory basis. However, the final request presented to the Congress by the Bureau of the Budget was for $5 million, and that amount has been included in the supplemental estimate, which was reported to the House on Monday in the second supplemental appropriations bill. Because of the confusion surrounding this entire question, I have asked Mr. Fred A. McNamara, who handles many medical and hospitalization questions for the Bureau of the Budget to be present this morning and to hear the testimony of Admiral Boone, with a view to possibly reconciling some of the discrepancies which we have heard and to clearing up the questions which I am sure have arisen in the minds of many of the members. Mr. McNamara is seated at the table 115 |