Washington, D.C. – “Yesterday, the President signed into law a veterans’ spending bill that built upon the achievement of last year, when Congress provided the VA with the largest increase in the 77-year history of the Department of Veterans Affairs and its predecessor agency.  This year’s bill provides $4.5 billion in discretionary spending above last year’s level, nearly $3 billion more than the Bush Administration requested.  It is the second budget in a row that exceeds the request of the Independent Budget, which is formulated by a coalition of veterans’ organizations.  

“This bill provides a $4.1 billion increase for VA medical care and research, nearly $2 billion more than the Administration requested.  It also makes important investments to provide increased mental health care, assist homeless veterans, increase VA long-term care, and provide additional funding to construct and modernize VA facilities and provide needed maintenance.

“The 110th Congress has been the most productive Congress for veterans in decades.  From overhauling the G.I. Bill to provide educational benefits to meet today’s needs, to legislation that addressed the needs of returning service members and veterans from previous conflicts, to monumental funding increases that have begun to address years of chronic underfunding, this Congress has kept its promises to veterans.  More needs to be done to make sure that the men and women in harm’s way are cared for when they return.  We will continue to work together next year and in the years ahead to meet our obligations and keep the promises that have been made to our heroes.”

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DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS: $47.6 billion, $4.5 billion above 2008 and $2.8 billion over the President’s request, for veterans’ medical care, claims processors, and facility improvements. Some notable provisions include:

• Veterans Health Administration: $41 billion, $1.8 billion over the President’s request and $4.1 billion above 2008, for veterans medical care.  The Veterans Health Administration estimates they will treat more than 5.8 million patients in 2009 including more than 333,275 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan (40,000 more than 2008).
   
• Medical Services: $30.97 billion, $1.2 billion above the President’s request and $2.9 billion above 2008, to improve access to medical services for all veterans.
  Mental Health Care and Substance Abuse: Dedicate a minimum of $3.8 billion, $900 million more than 2008, to specialty mental health services for veterans with mental illness, PTSD, and for suicide prevention. 
   
• Priority 8 Veterans: $375 million to increase enrollment of Priority 8 (low to middle income) veterans by 10 percent;
  Mileage Reimbursement: $133 million above the President’s request to increase funding to raise the gas mileage reimbursement rate from 28.5 cents to 41.5 cents per mile for veterans traveling distances for care, and a freeze on the associated deductible;
   
• Claims Processors: Increased funding to hire 2,000 additional claims processors to work down the backlog of 390,000 benefits claims and to reduce the 6 month time to process new claims
  Rural Veterans: Rural Health Initiative: $250 million to begin a rural health initiative to improve access to medical services for veterans living in rural areas.
   
• Prosthetics: $1.6 billion, $250 million above 2008 and $116 million above the President’s request, to provide veterans with appropriate prosthetic support and sensory aids given recent advances in technology.
   
• Homeless Veterans: $130 million to provide the additional case workers and medical services needed for our homeless veterans; including $30 million to hire additional personnel for the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program.