Shutdown Won't Affect Veterans Health Services, Israel Says

Veterans seeking health care services at the would not be affected if the shutdown of federal services takes place Friday.

A representative for U.S. Rep. Steve Israel, D-Huntington, said that the VA health care services are covered by advance appropriations.

"Therefore money has already been appropriated to fully fund health care services through FY2011," said Lindsay Hamilton, public affairs representative for Israel. "So, the good news is, there shouldn't be a funding gap that affects veterans." 

Israel was a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, which oversees funding for Veterans Affairs, before taking leave from that position to chair the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, one of six leadership positions in the House.

Other essential services, including U.S. military forces, the Postal Service, and federal law enforcement agencies, would not be affected directly by the shutdown, federal officials said.

will update this story if a representative from the VA comments.

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