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.”