Andrews checking on veterans

PORTLAND — Rep. Tom Andrews was in his home state Wednesday, along with Rep. Lane Evans, D-Ill., to discuss veterans issues. Both serve on the House Armed Services Committee.

“We are trying to get a firsthand look at what is happening with our veterans here in Maine,” Andrews said.

Lane said Veterans Administration funding is falling behind, partly because veterans are living longer. Half of the men over 65 in the country are World War II veterans, he said.

“We know that the VA’s funding nationwide has not kept up with … the increased demand of these veterans coming into the facilities,” Lane said.

Andrews also planned to ask officials at the Veterans Administration hospital in Togus about a former patient who went on a shooting spree in Kentucky after ending a voluntary program at the center.

A congressional committee was investigating the incident involving Robert Daigneau, who shot and killed his estranged wife and three others before committing suicide.

“It’s very difficult to comment until we know some of the results of that investigation,” Andrews said.