Thank you for your letter of March 29, 1984, advising me of your continuing interest in the subject of the health care of rural veterans and requesting that we address certain specific questions on this subject as part of our prepared statement for the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing on April 11.

The questions you raised are incisive and will require extensive staff work. Moreover, as you know, many of these questions involve programs initiated at individual VA medical centers, and will require coordination with those centers as well as with regional medical officials. Under the circumstances, I regret that it will not be possible to provide answers to your questions in our testimony as you requested. Please be assured that we will respond in full to your questions as soon as possible. In the meantime, VA representatives would, of course, certainly attempt to respond to any questions on this subject you might raise in the course of this hearing.

Chairman SIMPSON. Without objection, the prepared statement of Hon. Rudy Boschwitz, a U.S. Senator from the State of Minnesota; the text of the bills S. 2210, S. 2269, amendment No. 2850 to S. 2269, S. 2278, S. 2514; the introductory statements; and agency reports thereon will be entered into the record at this point.

[The prepared statement of Hon. Rudy Boschwitz, a U.S. Senator from the State of Minnesota; the text of the bills S. 2210, S. 2269, amendment No. 2850 to S. 2269, S. 2278, S. 2514; the introductory statements; and agency reports thereon, as referred to earlier, follow:]

Thank you for your letter of March 29, 1984, advising me of your continuing interest in the subject of the health care of rural veterans and requesting that we address certain specific questions on this subject as part of our prepared statement for the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing on April 11.

The questions you raised are incisive and will require extensive staff work. Moreover, as you know, many of these questions involve programs initiated at individual VA medical centers, and will require coordination with those centers as well as with regional medical officials. Under the circumstances, I regret that it will not be possible to provide answers to your questions in our testimony as you requested. Please be assured that we will respond in full to your questions as soon as possible. In the meantime, VA representatives would, of course, certainly attempt to respond to any questions on this subject you might raise in the course of this hearing.

Chairman SIMPSON. Without objection, the prepared statement of Hon. Rudy Boschwitz, a U.S. Senator from the State of Minnesota; the text of the bills S. 2210, S. 2269, amendment No. 2850 to S. 2269, S. 2278, S. 2514; the introductory statements; and agency reports thereon will be entered into the record at this point.

[The prepared statement of Hon. Rudy Boschwitz, a U.S. Senator from the State of Minnesota; the text of the bills S. 2210, S. 2269, amendment No. 2850 to S. 2269, S. 2278, S. 2514; the introductory statements; and agency reports thereon, as referred to earlier, follow:]

PREPARED STATEMENT OF HON. RUDY BOSCHWITZ, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF

MINNESOTA

MR. CHAIRMAN, TODAY THIS COMMITTEE WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW, ALONG WITH OUR WITNESSES, VARIOUS PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE AND UPGRADE VETERANS HEALTH CARE PROGRAMS.

PROPOSALS I FEEL ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

INCLUDED ARE SEVERAL

OF COURSE, GIVEN PRIDE OF AUTHORSHIP, I FEEL MY BILL, S. 2278, IS THE MOST IMPORTANT BILL UNDER CONSIDERATION! BUT ACTUALLY, I AM VERY PLEASED TO SEE SIMILAR LANGUAGE IN BOTH SENATOR SIMPSON'S AND CRANSTON'S COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH BILLS IT CERTAINLY APPEARS THIS COMMITTEE WILL BE ACTING ON THIS ISSUE THIS YEAR.

S. 2278 DEALS WITH THE VA'S AUTHORITY TO PLACE CHEMICALLY DEPENDENT VETERANS IN NON-VA COMMUNITY FACILITIES. CURRENTLY, THIS HALF-WAY HOUSE PROGRAM IS OPERATING UNDER A PILOT AUTHORITY THAT IS DUE TO EXPIRE SEPTEMBER 30, 1985.

MR. CHAIRMAN, I HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH VA OFFICIALS AND VETERANS IN MEDICAL FACILITIES AROUND BOTH MINNESOTA AND THE COUNTRY. THEIR REACTIONS TO THE PROGRAM'S WORTH HAVE BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE. "IT'S THE BEST THING EVER TO HAPPEN TO THE VA'S CHEMICAL DEPENDENCY PROGRAM" IS A TYPICAL COMMENT.