News 12 Staff

•

May 23, 2023, 5:42 PM

•

Updated

More Stories

01:27

Broadway stars bring ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ to life with a little radio magic

00:25

SUNY strengthens campus sexual violence prevention efforts following alleged gang rape at Cornell

00:38

Westchester County budget calls for 3.3% property tax increase with no layoffs or program cuts

00:26

Phelps Hospital opens 24/7 kosher food pantry for Jewish patients and families

01:52

Third Port Chester water main break in 2 weeks raises concerns over decades-old underground utility records

01:02

Hot Toys: Character craze toy guide from KPop Demon Hunters to Paw Patrol and more

A group of veterans rallied at Montrose VA Medical Center Tuesday over the potential of funding cuts as negotiations continue to avert a default on the nation's debt.

The debt ceiling proposal released by the GOP does not mention veterans, which protesters say means veterans affairs funding could be on the table for negotiations.  

About 24 veterans' services organizations signed a letter asking Congress to protect Veterans Affairs funding.  

Stephani Keegan lost her son, Sgt. Daniel Keegan, from an infection related to his intermittent drug use while waiting for care. She said he suffered from PTSD and waited 16 months for an appointment.  

"I don't want any family to go through what my family has gone through because the VA couldn't do their job when they had what they thought was enough,” she says.

Rep. Mike Lawler says just last week House Republicans advanced an appropriations bill that would increase spending for the Department of Veterans Affairs by $18 billion from last year.

He released a statement that said in part, “Let me be clear: I never have and never will support cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and we will not default.”