Help get vets' bill out of committee

Editor:

On Jan. 17, 2007, U.S. Rep. Solomon Ortiz introduced the South Texas Veterans Access to Health Services Act (HB 538) in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill was referred to the House Veterans Affairs Committee, which in turn send it to a subcommittee on health. On April 26, 2007, hearings were held by the House Veterans Subcommittee on Health, where Rep. Ortiz introduced testimony in support of said bill.

Since then the bill has garnered the support of only 15 cosponsors. It still is in the House Veterans Subcommittee on Health.

The bill needs to be placed on the agenda of the House Veterans Affairs Committee for a vote. Whether the bill passes or not, local veterans want it to move on for a vote.

We ask that veterans and their supporters write, call, e-mail or phone Rep. Bob Filner, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, and ask that he place HB 538 for a vote. If it passes it will be sent to the full House of Representatives for a vote. If not, it will die in committee.

Veterans have sent three delegations to Washington, D.C., to muster support. Many feel that there are enough votes, however close, to pass it. But it must get out of committee.

Veterans are seeking, once again, public support in their efforts to bring a much-needed Veterans Affairs hospital to the Rio Grande Valley. Support our veterans.

Arturo Treto Garza

Harlingen

Via the Internet

A few thoughts about candidates

Editor:

So Hillary "misspoke" when she said she was under sniper fire in Bosnia in 1996, and Bill Clinton misspoke when he said, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman." Now you see Chelsea Clinton telling a student, "I don't think it's any of your business," to a question on Hillary's credibility during Bill's romp in the Oval Office.

Well, she needs to understand that Bill and Monica were not in a cheap motel at the time; they were in the White House, disrespecting every taxpayer in the country! And this does give this student and all Americans the right to ask.

By the way, where was President Bill Clinton when he sent Hillary and Chelsea to Bosnia? Interviewing girls for White House aides?

Now on Barack Obama's pastor deal, I am a Catholic and I do not let my priest or their beliefs govern my life; I use my own common sense. I don't believe he is swayed in any way by this pastor.

The Clintons will do anything and say anything to get in office. The voters are smarter than the media and the Clintons think and can see through all these lies and underhanded stuff. Barack Obama is only defending himself from all the cheap shots and not slinging the mud like the Piggy Clintons.

Rick Ruenes

Brownsville

Via the Internet