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Ryan Blasts Removal of Veterans Affairs Chairman
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th Ohio, yesterday criticized the Republican leadership in the House of Representatives for removing Christopher Smith as chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee."Another voice of reason has been removed from a leadership role in the House of Representatives, and the men and women who have so honorably served their country will pay the price," Ryan said Thursday.Smith, R-4th N.J., was also removed from the committee of which he was a member 24 years and had chaired the last four. He reportedly was removed because he angered the Bush administration and Republican leaders by pushing for more aid for veterans. A member of the committee, Ryan said that Smith had done "an exceptional job" of paying attention to the needs of the country's veterans and that his efforts to ensure they received what they earned often fell on deaf ears. "Congressman Smith cared for our veterans, and always tried to do what is right," Ryan's said in a prepared statement. "Unfortunately, doing what is right doesn't earn you the admiration from a majority party that has lost its priorities." Ryan said the Bush administration has continually underfunded the Veterans Administration health care budget and has blocked "tens of thousands of veterans access to the VA health care system." Smith's removal as chairman for what he characterized as "political reasons" sends a message to veterans that what is important to them doesn't matter."He [Smith] had a solid record of accomplishment -- and put veterans first. Veterans can rightfully ask the new chairman if their concerns will continue to be heard," Ryan continued, calling on Smith's successor, Rep. Steve Buyer, "to put the nations' veterans and their families first and to be more responsive to their needs." The Disabled Veterans Organization, an organization with 1.2 million members that represents the nation's wartime disabled veterans, also decried the removal of Smith. In a news release, DAV executive director David W. Gorman described Smith as "a strong veterans' advocate" throughout his chairmanship, praising him for repeatedly recommending funding increases for veterans' health care and for leading the successful effort two years ago to prevent budget cuts in these programs. "Given Rep. Smith's solid record of accomplishments and steadfast commitment to the men and women who have served and sacrificed for our nation, it is a grave disappointment that the House leadership decided to strip him of his chairmanship, which was not due to expire for two more years," Gorman said.Since taking control of the House in 1994, Republicans have set limits of six years on how long committee chairmen can serve."