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REPUBLICAN PRESS RELEASE

March 19, 2007

Rep. Buchanan receives appointment to House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

Washington, D.C. – House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) offered his welcome to Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.), who was appointed to the committee on March 12.

“Congressman Buchanan, who has a large veteran constituency in his Florida district, will be a steadfast supporter of veterans and is a welcome addition to our committee,” Buyer said.

“I look forward to working with Democrats and Republicans on the committee to address the needs of my district’s more than 95,000 veterans,” Buchanan said. “As a member of Congress, one of my most important duties is to ensure that our vets receive the health care and benefits they have earned.”

“I am deeply troubled by the reports of substandard conditions and bureaucratic problems affecting the care of injured soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan,” Buchanan said. “I am further concerned with the possibility that substandard conditions exist throughout the military healthcare system. I have written to the acting secretary of the army, Peter Geren, to express my concerns. In the coming weeks, I intend to work with my colleagues in Congress to ensure that this Walter Reed incident doesn’t happen again.”

“This is a great day for veterans,” said Florida Veterans of Foreign Wars legislative chair and national legislative committee member, retired Lt. Col. Lee Kichen. “As a former member of the National Guard, Congressman Buchanan brings valuable experience to the committee. National Guard members and reservists are playing a vital role in the War on Terror. It is good to have someone of the congressman’s background serving as an advocate for our newest generation of veterans.”

Elected on Nov. 7, 2006 to serve the people of Florida’s 13th Congressional District, Buchanan was also appointed to serve on the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and the House Committee on Small Business.

Buchanan, a respected leader in Florida’s business community, chaired both the Florida and Sarasota chambers of commerce, and was on the board of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

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Larry Scott

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