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UPDATE: VA BUDGET COULD GET $3.6 BILLION
INFUSION --
Will help keep up with inflation and increasing
number of vets seeking healthcare.
Background here...
http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfJAN07/nf012707-6.htm
This came to me via email...
Story below:
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News from Congressman Chet Edwards
17th District, Texas · 2369 Rayburn Building, Washington, D.C.
20515-4311 (202) 225-6105
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Edwards: 2007 Joint Funding Resolution Increases VA Healthcare Budget By
$3.6 Billion Above 2006 Level
(WASHINGTON, DC) - U.S. Representative Chet Edwards today announced that
the budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs under the fiscal year
2007 Joint Funding Resolution is $3.6 billion higher for veterans'
medical care than the budget approved by the previous Congress for
fiscal year 2006, $3.4 billion overall. Edwards, Chairman of the House
Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans
Affairs, emphasized that while the increase is significant, the level is
consistent with the need to keep up with health care inflation and the
increasing number of veterans coming into the VA health care system.
"This increased funding level is good news for America's veterans,
because it provides $278 million dollars more a month for the VA health
care system compared to the budget passed by the previous Congress. The
sooner this bill is passed and sent to the president, the better, since
continued funding of the VA at 2006 levels could force harmful cuts in
health care services for hundreds of thousands of veterans due to health
care inflation and the increasing number of veterans using the VA health
care system."
As Chairman, Edwards fought for a significant increase in VA health care
funding, despite the tight budget constraints enacted by the previous
Congress.
"I will never understand why the previous congressional leadership
refused to pass the veterans' health care funding bill, instead allowing
funding to proceed for the last four months at last year's funding
levels. This bill will correct that wrong," said Edwards. "Our veterans
have kept their promises to our nation, and we felt it was our duty to
keep our promises to them. I applaud Chairman Obey for writing a bill
that clearly makes veterans our top priority."
The following are the totals for VA and military construction:
Department of Veterans Affairs
o Veterans Healthcare: $32.3 billion, an increase of $3.6 billion above
the fiscal year 2006 funding level
o VA discretionary total is $36.5 billion, an increase of $3.4 billion
above fiscal year 2006 funding level.
o Fully funded pay raises (other agencies only receive 50% of pay raise)
Military Construction
o $6.2 billion for military construction
o $4 billion for family housing program
o U.S. Army would receive $250 million more than fiscal year 2006 level.
o BRAC accounts will receive a $1 billion increase above the fiscal year
2006 level, for a total of $2.5 billion.
"While this bill did not fully fund the BRAC accounts for 2007, Congress
will have the opportunity to address the rest of the funding
requirements in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2007 Supplemental, which should
be passed in the spring," said Edwards.
The House is expected to vote on the fiscal year 2007 Joint Funding
Resolution Wednesday.
Edwards is the Chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans
Affairs Appropriations Subcommittee.
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Larry Scott
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