PRESS RELEASE
Vietnam Veterans of America
IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Release
August 25, 2009
No. 09-27

Contact: Mokie Porter
301-585-4000, Ext. 146

Health Care Reform Hysteria: 'Death Book' Scare Tactics Inexcusable

(Washington, D.C.) -
"Health care reform is a legitimate topic for discussion and debate," said John Rowan, National President of
Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA), "but it is outrageous for some partisans to politicize the debate by targeting
veterans with blatant scare tactics.

"The issue du jour is the so-called Death Book for veterans," Rowan said.

In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, the person who headed the office of faith-based initiatives for the Bush White House attacked 'Your Life, Your Choices,' a 52-page booklet of end-of-life options to be considered by veterans and
their families that has been given out by the VA as per federal law.
This booklet, developed in 1997 when Bill Clinton was President, was given to veterans and their families,
if requested, under a directive in 2007 from President Bush.
It was updated last month, under President Obama.

"This booklet was developed with guidance from clerics," Rowan said, "and it addresses options most of us and our loved ones will have to sort through as we live our final years.
To play politics with veterans' end-of-life choices is not only irresponsible politically, but it is cruel.
We agree with Congressman Joe Sestak, a retired Navy Admiral, who is outraged at the 'Death Book' charges
and has called them 'inexcusable.'

"It is our hope that sane minds reject fear-mongering, and that veterans recognize these scare tactics for what they are,
" Rowan said.