The following editorial, which does not necessarily reflect the views of The Spokesman-Review’s editorial board, appeared Friday in the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.

No matter how you look at the news about the budget for veterans’ health care in 2005, you can’t be encouraged about our nation’s commitment to taking care of those who have protected us.

While it is true that the budget calls for a record $30.3 billion, an increase of $1.9 billion from this year, it falls considerably short of the $3.1 billion increase the House Veterans Affairs Committee said in February was needed just to maintain the current level of benefits and services.

Certainly the health care needs of veterans have not decreased since February. If anything, the committee’s estimate may be low – and that is simply to maintain the status quo.

“The demand on the system has never been higher,” Richard Fuller, national legislative director of the Paralyzed Veterans of America, told the Associated Press. “The cost of health care has never been higher. This is not going to be adequate.”

“With the country at war, politicians make a big show about how much the country owes veterans. … The commitment doesn’t match reality,” David Autry, spokesman for Disabled American Veterans, told the Associated Press.

The number of veterans needing health care services is increasing as veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam and the first Gulf War grow older, and more veterans are being injured daily in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Does the government really expect veterans to forego treatment because it didn’t budget adequately? Or is the plan to use the budget crunch to make another assault on VA hospitals, such as Walla Walla’s Jonathan M. Wainwright Memorial Veterans Affairs Medical Center?

It was less than a year ago that the VA was entertaining a recommendation to close the local VA hospital. Only the concerted efforts of local residents, veterans and politicians kept the doors open. The VA agreed to do another study of the local situation, but then dragged its feet setting up the committee until recently.

The good news on the budget was it approved money for the local group to do a feasibility study on the best options for the local hospital.

People who are concerned about what might happen to the local VA hospital now are going to need to keep an eye on the committee and on the budget’s bottom line.

Congress’ lack of courage to fund veterans’ health care at the necessary levels cannot be allowed to hurt those who have stood in harm’s way for the rest of us.