For Immediate Release
May 14, 2008

In addition to Sununu's 28 votes against funding for veterans' health care, he voted against funding the VA's prosthetics program for veterans who lost limbs in combat

(Manchester, NH) - Foster's Daily Democrat reported yesterday that the Veterans Administration expects the cost of caring for disabled veterans to double over the coming years from $29 to $59 billion. [Foster's Daily Democrat, 5/13/08] Despite this mounting challenge, John E. Sununu has consistently voted against programs for disabled veterans such as the VA's prosthetics program, and he has earned a paltry 35% legislative record in the Senate from the Disabled American Veterans. [DAV Legislator Scorecard]

"In addition to his 28 votes against funding for veterans' health care, Sununu has failed to support veterans that need our help the most - those who have lost limbs or become disabled through their brave service," said Alex Reese, press secretary for the NHDP's Coordinated Campaign. "It's our moral and patriotic duty to support our veterans, and the need to support disabled vets is growing. But Sununu is just part of the problem."

In 2000, then-Congressman Sununu voted against funding for the VA prosthetics program to help veterans who lost limbs in service. [House Appropriations Committee Markup of H.R.4635, 06/07/00] His lack of support for disabled veterans earned him a 35% career rating in the Senate from Disabled American Veterans, a national non-profit organization that helps veterans obtain services and advocates for veterans' issues. [DAV Legislator Scorecard]

Sununu's vote against programs for disabled veterans joins a long list of 28 votes to cut or provide insufficient funding for veterans' health care. [House Vote #609, 11/18/99; House Appropriations Committee Markup of H.R.3908, 03/09/00; House Appropriations Committee Markup of H.R.2620, 7/17/01; House Vote #296, 7/30/2001; House Vote #473, 11/13/2002; Senate Vote #74, 3/21/2003; Senate Vote #81, 3/25/2003; Senate Vote #83, 3/25/2003; Senate Vote #379, 10/14/2003; Senate Vote #34, 3/9/2004; Senate Vote #40, 3/10/2004; Senate Vote #48, 3/11/2004; Senate Vote #55, 3/16/2005; Senate Vote #81, 3/17/2005; Senate Vote #89, 4/12/2005; Senate Vote #90, 4/12/05; Senate Vote #114, 4/28/2005; Senate Vote #242, 9/22/05; Senate Vote #251, 10/5/05; Senate Vote #343, 11/17/2005; Senate Vote #7, 2/2/2006; Senate Vote #15, 2/13/2006; Senate Vote #41, 3/14/2006; Senate Vote #63, 3/16/2006; Senate Vote #67, 3/16/2006; Senate Vote #98, 4/26/2006; Senate Vote #114, 3/23/2007; Senate Vote #172, 5/17/2007]