A s a decorated and disabled combat veteran of Vietnam, I am deeply concerned about the availability of health care for current and future veterans.

The funding necessary to support veterans is inadequate. This is the direct result of the unwillingness of the Bush administration (as consistently supported by Sen. John McCain) to ensure that our veterans receive the care they deserve.

Sen. Barack Obama would put more funding into health care and make the system more stable and predictable. In contrast, McCain would squeeze money out of health care to fund other initiatives, resulting in millions of people losing their employer-sponsored health insurance. Despite McCain's exceptional military record and focus on veterans' status, he has a long history of voting against any increases in health-care funding for veterans, starting as early as August 2001. This was followed by votes in March 2004, March 2006, April 2006 and May 2007 in which he was consistently against any increases in health care funding for veterans. Veterans know that health care costs too much and is not available to everyone who needs it. There are not enough providers, hospital beds and outpatient treatment facilities for current veterans let alone those who will be returning from Afghanistan and Iraq.

Obama has consistently supported funding requests for health care for veterans.

RICK SHOUP

Concord