SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS AIRS “GRAVE CONCERNS” TO PRESIDENT REGARDING POLICY TO CEASE MARKETING OF SERVICES TO VETERANS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – An internal memo from the Department of Veterans Affairs has raised the ire of Senator Susan Collins, who has taken her concerns to President Bush and to the Secretary of the Department. A July 18th memo from Undersecretary for Health for Operations and Management instructs the VA's Network Directors to "ensure that no marketing activities to enroll new veterans occur within your networks."

Marketing VA services at health fairs, veterans open houses to invite new veterans to VA facilities, enrollment displays at VSO meetings, generalized mailings to veterans, local newspaper or newsletter articles encouraging veterans to enroll, and public service announcements are all deemed "inappropriate" according to the memo sent by Undersecretary Laura Miller.

"I understand that the veterans healthcare system currently faces a number of obstacles to improving access to services; however the guidelines established by the Under Secretary in this memorandum are a completely inappropriate response to these challenges. The deliberate restriction of information deprives Maine's veterans of healthcare privileges which they have earned in service to their country," said Senator Collins, who is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

In contacting both the President and Anthony Principi, the VA Secretary, Senator Collins strongly urged a reconsideration of that policy.

"Such a policy needlessly drives a wedge between our nation's veterans and the government that they so faithfully served."

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