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REPUBLICAN PRESS RELEASE

Thursday, February 8, 2007

Buyer says strong veterans’ budget reflects VA secretary’s leadership

Washington D.C. — Praising the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) for his leadership in getting America’s veterans a strong fiscal year 2008 budget proposal, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Steve Buyer (R-Ind.), heard testimony today from VA and veterans groups on the president’s annual budget request. The $86.75 billion budget, which drew acclaim but also some concern, is an increase of about 8 percent over the request for FY 2007, the largest amount ever requested by VA.

“I commend you for yet again embracing the challenge of improving VA’s budgeting process,” Buyer said. “Building on last year’s progress, improving the integrity of the process has borne fruit with this budget.”

“There are significant changes and challenges facing our veterans as they return from the war on terror. This budget will allow them to receive the care they need and lead full lives,” Buyer said, noting that much of the federal government received a 2.2 percent increase in the president’s request, due to the need to reduce the national debt.

Buyer commended Nicholson’s decision to embrace the idea of centralizing its information technology under VA’s chief information officer. “This innovation will be seen as part of your legacy to the Department of Veterans Affairs.”

The committee also heard testimony from representatives of the Independent Budget, the American Legion and Vietnam Veterans of America, although in contrast to proceedings last year, the majority of veterans groups will not be permitted to testify until after the budget has been developed.

“This input is important, but these groups here do not represent all veterans. We’ll get other input later, when veterans are in town for their conventions, but that will be after the budget is done,” Buyer said, expressing disappointment that in calling for “joint” hearings in the spring, some veterans’ service organizations (VSOs) have chosen “theater” over substance. “I set up a process to let veterans into the budget process and now they are being relegated to the back bench, silenced.”

Buyer, noting that no military service organizations (MSOs) have been asked to share their budgetary views, has asked Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-Calif.) to convene a meeting of VSOs and MSOs to hear their views before the budget is written.

The administration’s budget request includes $36.6 billion for veterans’ medical care, including $740 million for medical facilities construction. These facilities will include new hospitals – some authorized last year – in Las Vegas, Nev., Denver, Colo., and Orlando, Fla., a spinal cord injury center for Syracuse, N.Y., and an outpatient clinic in Lee County, Fla. This year’s major and minor medical construction request is more than a 60 percent increase over the FY 2007 request.

“The building of these facilities is long overdue and I am pleased to see that the funding for these projects is included in this request,” Buyer said.

The budget also includes record funding of $44.7 billion for the veterans benefit administration. The funds will in part hire an additional 457 claims adjudicators. Buyer expects VA to explore innovative ways to reduce an unacceptably large backlog of claims beyond hiring more compensation and pension claims employees, which require two to three years of training.

“Simply throwing money at the problem is not the answer,” Buyer said. “Every one of these claims is not just a number but a veteran and their family who deserve the compensation that is owed to them. I am troubled by what I would characterize as an insufficient use of technology, and instead, the status quo – throwing more people at the problem.”

Discussing the Montgomery GI Bill for veterans returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom with VSO leaders, Buyer reviewed accomplishments made during the last Congress.

“You asked for improvements to the GI Bill,” Buyer said. “In the last Congress we made [GI Bill] chapter 35 more flexible for spouses and dependents, we restored the entitlements for National Guard and Reserve called to active duty during the school year, we extended work study provisions to ensure a vet didn’t lose a job during the school year, and we required VA to report ways to streamline administration of the GI Bill to shorten the time to get that first check.”

Buyer praised VA’s agreement with the U.S. Olympic Committee that permits participants in VA’s National Wheelchair Games and National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic to qualify for the U.S. Paralympics.

“You are tapping into hope,” Buyer said to Nicholson. “You are giving great hope to a lot of veterans, helping them aspire to levels in those sports they never dreamed would be possible.”

Buyer concluded, saying, “There is more to be done to ensure access to quality care and prompt delivery of benefits to all who have earned them, and I look forward to working with other members of the committee on these issues.”

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Larry Scott

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