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Interview With Anthony Principi, Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Aired May 26, 2003 - 15:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: It is 3:00 p.m. in the nation's capital, noon on the West Coast. I'm Judy Woodruff, LIVE from the Iwo Jima Memorial, just steps from Arlington National Cemetery.
At this hour, we pause, along with America, for a national moment of remembrance. The latest tribute on this Memorial Day to the serviceman and women who died for their country. Here in the Washington, D.C. area, "Taps" is being played at a variety of memorials, including the Vietnam Veteran's Wall.
It was President Bush who led the Memorial Day ceremonies, mindful of the "recent loss and recent courage of U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan." He laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. Just hours after, another U.S. soldier was killed in a convoy ambush in Iraq.
Amid a Memorial Day homecoming for Marines in North Carolina, the Navy and Coast Guard are searching for one of their comrades who disappeared from the USS Nassau as it returned from Iraq. Just days ago, another sailor fell overboard from the same ship and is presumed lost at sea.
Of course this holiday also pays tribute to casualties of wars past. Six names recently added to the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial were officially unveiled during today's ceremony at the wall. With me now here near the Iwo Jima site the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Anthony Principi.
Mr. Secretary, of course we remember those lost in all the wars America has fought today, but we do remember America's veterans, all of our veterans who are still alive. Do you, as the secretary of this department, think for many Americans enough attention is paid, that there's enough appreciation for the sacrifice that veterans make?
ANTHONY PRINCIPI, SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS: I think Americans are grateful for the service of the 25 million living veterans and, of course, all those who have passed on before them. Sometimes when we get longer from a period of war we tend to forget. But on a day like today, it provokes profound emotions in so many Americans when they reflect on the blessings of liberty, the blessings of freedom.
All the things that we cherish in this great country are made possible because men and women are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, if need be. So, yes, perhaps 9/11, the Iraq war, Afghanistan has renewed our sense of patriotism and sense of thank-you for what the men and women are willing to do. WOODRUFF: Mr. Secretary, I want to ask you about -- much of your time over the last couple of years have been very devoted to resources, the question of money for the huge veterans department. Just before the war in Iraq got underway, the president proposed a 10- year, $15 billion reduction, though, in pensions and disability compensation for veterans. Are you comfortable with that kind of a cut of this kind (ph)?
PRINCIPI: Well, actually, it didn't come from the president. I think there was a move in Congress to cut one percent from all federal agencies, and the president gave me instructions to oppose that reduction, actually.
I'm very proud. We've had the largest increases in the VA budget in history over the past three years. I think that the challenge is that more and more veterans are coming to us than ever before.
We have grown from 2.9 million users of our health care system, today, just five years later, we have seven million veterans enrolled in the VA health care system. The demand has, even with those increases, has outstripped our ability to provide care for them in a timely manner. And that's of great concern, Judy.
WOODRUFF: Well what about that? These spending cuts, you know, whatever the source, the proposed cuts come at a time when your department is being asked to care for many more veterans than ever before. Some people look at the Veterans Affairs Department and say, are you overwhelmed at this point?
PRINCIPI: We are overwhelmed. Congress opened the doors to 25 million veterans to come to us for health care. In 1998, only three million had eligibility for the full range of health care.
So we are stretched to the limit. And I'm just grateful that that one percent cut over 10 years, which amounts to the billions of dollars you indicated, Judy, never went into effect.
We cannot afford a cut like that. Not when veterans of World War II are in their 80s and 90s. The Korean population are in their 70s and 80s. And even my Vietnam generation are getting up to the 60 range.
So we have great challenges. And the veteran population may be declining over the next decade because our World War II generation, the greatest generation, are passing on. But the demand for health care is tremendous.
WOODRUFF: Secretary Anthony Principi, who is the secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, thank you so much for talking with us on this Memorial Day.
PRINCIPI: Thank you so much. Thank you. It's wonderful to be with you.
WOODRUFF: It's good to see you again.
PRINCIPI: Good to see you, too.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Affairs>
Aired May 26, 2003 - 15:01 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JUDY WOODRUFF, CNN ANCHOR: It is 3:00 p.m. in the nation's capital, noon on the West Coast. I'm Judy Woodruff, LIVE from the Iwo Jima Memorial, just steps from Arlington National Cemetery.
At this hour, we pause, along with America, for a national moment of remembrance. The latest tribute on this Memorial Day to the serviceman and women who died for their country. Here in the Washington, D.C. area, "Taps" is being played at a variety of memorials, including the Vietnam Veteran's Wall.
It was President Bush who led the Memorial Day ceremonies, mindful of the "recent loss and recent courage of U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan." He laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. Just hours after, another U.S. soldier was killed in a convoy ambush in Iraq.
Amid a Memorial Day homecoming for Marines in North Carolina, the Navy and Coast Guard are searching for one of their comrades who disappeared from the USS Nassau as it returned from Iraq. Just days ago, another sailor fell overboard from the same ship and is presumed lost at sea.
Of course this holiday also pays tribute to casualties of wars past. Six names recently added to the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial were officially unveiled during today's ceremony at the wall. With me now here near the Iwo Jima site the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Anthony Principi.
Mr. Secretary, of course we remember those lost in all the wars America has fought today, but we do remember America's veterans, all of our veterans who are still alive. Do you, as the secretary of this department, think for many Americans enough attention is paid, that there's enough appreciation for the sacrifice that veterans make?
ANTHONY PRINCIPI, SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS: I think Americans are grateful for the service of the 25 million living veterans and, of course, all those who have passed on before them. Sometimes when we get longer from a period of war we tend to forget. But on a day like today, it provokes profound emotions in so many Americans when they reflect on the blessings of liberty, the blessings of freedom.
All the things that we cherish in this great country are made possible because men and women are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice, if need be. So, yes, perhaps 9/11, the Iraq war, Afghanistan has renewed our sense of patriotism and sense of thank-you for what the men and women are willing to do. WOODRUFF: Mr. Secretary, I want to ask you about -- much of your time over the last couple of years have been very devoted to resources, the question of money for the huge veterans department. Just before the war in Iraq got underway, the president proposed a 10- year, $15 billion reduction, though, in pensions and disability compensation for veterans. Are you comfortable with that kind of a cut of this kind (ph)?
PRINCIPI: Well, actually, it didn't come from the president. I think there was a move in Congress to cut one percent from all federal agencies, and the president gave me instructions to oppose that reduction, actually.
I'm very proud. We've had the largest increases in the VA budget in history over the past three years. I think that the challenge is that more and more veterans are coming to us than ever before.
We have grown from 2.9 million users of our health care system, today, just five years later, we have seven million veterans enrolled in the VA health care system. The demand has, even with those increases, has outstripped our ability to provide care for them in a timely manner. And that's of great concern, Judy.
WOODRUFF: Well what about that? These spending cuts, you know, whatever the source, the proposed cuts come at a time when your department is being asked to care for many more veterans than ever before. Some people look at the Veterans Affairs Department and say, are you overwhelmed at this point?
PRINCIPI: We are overwhelmed. Congress opened the doors to 25 million veterans to come to us for health care. In 1998, only three million had eligibility for the full range of health care.
So we are stretched to the limit. And I'm just grateful that that one percent cut over 10 years, which amounts to the billions of dollars you indicated, Judy, never went into effect.
We cannot afford a cut like that. Not when veterans of World War II are in their 80s and 90s. The Korean population are in their 70s and 80s. And even my Vietnam generation are getting up to the 60 range.
So we have great challenges. And the veteran population may be declining over the next decade because our World War II generation, the greatest generation, are passing on. But the demand for health care is tremendous.
WOODRUFF: Secretary Anthony Principi, who is the secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, thank you so much for talking with us on this Memorial Day.
PRINCIPI: Thank you so much. Thank you. It's wonderful to be with you.
WOODRUFF: It's good to see you again.
PRINCIPI: Good to see you, too.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
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