To the editor:

As Americans, we have to do a much better job of providing a wide range of benefits and services for the men and women who have risked their lives in defense of our nation and our freedom.

Historically, the Congress has paved the way for veterans to buy their own homes through VA-guaranteed loans and to secure a college education through the GI Bill.

As a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, I am very proud to say that the Democratic Party was and continues to be at the forefront in honoring Americans who have served our great country faithfully and courageously.

On far too many occasions, however, our veterans are caught between a rock and a hard place when it actually comes down to receiving medical care, even of the routine variety.

My opponent has made his proposal; he seeks to set aside more than $60 million in taxpayers’ dollars to build a brick and mortar clinic in Cape Coral. Problem is, Mr. Mack now finds himself in a very partisan minority in Congress and his solid pro-Bush voting record might not sit too well with the Democratic leadership.

As a Democrat, I believe there’s a better way to use these federal dollars: $60 million-plus would be spent better to provide portable benefits for all veterans of military service. In this Congressional District, particularly, $60 million-plus would go a very long way to improving veterans’ health.

Here’s what benefits portability means: if a veteran visiting from Chicago runs out of a prescription that regulates a cardiovascular illness, that veteran would be required by the VA to return to Chicago to visit with a VA doctor in order to get his or her prescription refilled.

If a veteran living in Naples requires treatment for skin cancer, he or she would have to travel all the way up to the Tampa area to see a specialist.

Ask yourself: what’s wrong with this picture?

As one of my first acts as your United States Representative, I will introduce legislation that will make it much easier for our veterans to get quality medical attention right within their own communities.

And if a veteran takes ill while travelling, his portable benefits would be honored at any hospital or by any doctor nationwide.

My proposed legislation would empower the VA to negotiate fees for services with the medical profession, nationally, so that medical providers and hospitals can be assured prompt payment for their services in behalf of our veterans.

Second, veterans will get a card from the VA that will entitle them to receive prompt medical care and treatment by all participating medical care providers, and by the hospitals, wherever they may be, either at home or on vacation.

Third, to encourage higher-quality care, medical providers who specialize in the treatment of the most common symptoms and illnesses experienced by our veterans will get special tax credits, plus help in repaying their medical school loans.

My goal is simple: create a system of incentives, administered by the VA at the direction of Congress, to afford our honored veterans with the best-quality medical care nationally.

Robert M. Neeld, Democratic Party candidate for the U. S. House of Representatives, 14th Congressional District.