House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

109th CONGRESS

Second Session

October 2, 2006

  

 

VA Health Care Funding Update:

 

On February 6, 2006, the Bush Administration released its federal budget for FY 2007, which begins on October 1, 2006.  On February 8, 2006, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary R. James Nicholson testified before the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs concerning the President’s budget request for the VA.  In a break from the past few years, the Administration requested an increase totaling $3.4 billion for VA medical care, this on the heels of the VA’s shortfall fiasco last year, when it needed an additional $1.2 billion in FY 2005 and additional resources for FY 2006. 

 

Although the Administration requested an increase for VA health care, it also, once again, submitted proposals that would have instituted an enrollment fee for some veterans and nearly doubled pharmaceutical co-payments, proposals that have been soundly rejected by Congress every time they have been proposed.  The budget also relied upon “efficiencies” in order to bridge the gap between what was requested and what is needed, even though the VA has been unable to demonstrate that it has achieved such efficiencies in the past.  Committee Democrats responded by forwarding a budget proposal on February 23, 2006, that recommended an additional $2.8 billion on top of the Administration’s request for health care.

 

In March, the House Budget Committee voted out a budget that matched the Administration’s request for FY 2007, but would cut veterans’ health care by $6 billion over 5 years.  This Republican budget was finally agreed to in May.  Also in March, during debate on the Wartime Supplemental spending bill, an amendment was offered by Rep. John T. Salazar (D-CO) that would have provided $630 million in much-needed health care funding for the current year to meet the needs of our returning servicemembers.  This amendment was defeated by the majority on a procedural maneuver. 

 

In May, the House Appropriations Committee passed the FY 2007 VA appropriations bill, a measure ultimately agreed to by the House on May 19, 2006.  This bill, H.R. 5385, which did not include the President’s proposed fees and co-payments, provided for $100 million less in Medical Services than the Administration’s request, but the same overall level for VA health care.  Representative Sam Farr (D-CA) offered an amendment before the Appropriations Committee, and again on the House floor, that would have increased VA health care by $1.2 billion, to address urgent needs for mental health care, prosthetics, and other high-priority items, while ending the Bush Administration’s ban on enrolling certain new veterans.  Unfortunately, the amendment was defeated in Committee and on the House floor.

On July 20, 2006, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported its version of H.R. 5385.  This bill is similar to the House version in many instances, including the amount provided for Medical Services.  Unfortunately, the VA will once again start the new fiscal year (which begins on October 1st) without its budget in place.  Veterans will have to wait until a lame duck session after the elections in November, or later, in order to see VA spending finalized for the coming year.

Democrats believe that the bill does not provide the VA with the necessary resources to meet the challenges our veterans are facing, including caring for servicemembers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan as well as providing services to our veterans from previous conflicts. Democrats will keep fighting to provide more resources in order to meet the needs of our veterans.

 

Second Session of the 109th Congress:

 

Legislation Signed into Public Law:

 

P.L. 109-228 – formerly H.R. 5037 – Respect for Fallen Heroes Act

This law prohibits certain demonstrations at National Cemeteries and at Arlington National Cemetery, unless first approved by the superintendent of the cemetery.  It will also prohibit certain demonstrations within 150 feet of a cemetery entrance or exit from one hour before until one hour after a funeral and prohibit impeding the access to the cemetery within 300 feet of the entrance to a national cemetery.

 

House passed on May 9, 2006, and referred it to the Senate on May 10, 2006. Became Public Law on May 29, 2006.

 

P.L. 109-233 – formerly S. 1235 as amended – Veterans’ Housing Opportunity and Benefits Improvement Act of 2006 (Previously H.R. 3665)

 

The law provides adaptive housing assistance to disabled veterans residing temporarily in housing owned by a family member; makes the direct housing loan pilot program for Native American veterans a permanent program; makes modifications to the Advisory Committee on Veterans Employment and Training with the Department of Labor; provides Life and Health Insurance coverage to certain veterans and their family members.

 

Senate passed with amendments on September 28, 2005. House passed on May 22, 2006. Became Public Law on June 15, 2006.

P.L. 109-361 - formerly S. 2562 – Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2006

This bill will increase effective as of December 1, 2006, the rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans, and for other purposes.  (The COLA will be 3.3%.)

Passed by the Senate on September 19, 2006; Passed by the House on September 30, 2006.  Became Public Law on October 16, 2006.

 

 

Legislation Passed by the House:

 

H.R. 5835 – Veterans Identity and Credit Security Act of 2006

 

This legislation will assist veterans whose sensitive personal information is compromised by the VA.  It provides for notification in the event veterans' data is compromised, and provides fraud alerts and credit security freezes, at the request of the veteran, at no charge.  If the VA determines a reasonable risk that compromised sensitive personal information will be misused, the bill then provides for a range of credit protection services to be made available, including credit monitoring and fraud insurance at no charge to the veteran.  The bill also improves the VA's information technology efforts by amending the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) and creating the position of Under Secretary for Information Services within the VA, and establishes a scholarship and loan forgiveness program for students seeking doctoral degrees in computer science to assist the VA with recruiting and retaining qualified personnel.

 

Passed by the House on September 26, 2006, referred to the Senate.

 

H.R. 5815 – Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Authorization Act of 2006

 

To authorize major medical facility projects and major medical facility leases for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal years 2006 and 2007, and for other purposes.  Authorizes nearly $2.4 billion for major VA facility construction projects and leases, including projects located in hurricane-devastated New Orleans and Biloxi. 

 

Passed by the House on September 26, 2006, referred to the Senate.

 

H.R. 3082 as amended – Veterans Small Business and Memorial Affairs Act of 2006 (includes, H.R. 5220, H.R. 601 and H.R. 5038)

 

This bill would require the Secretary of the VA to establish annual contracting goals within the VA for small businesses owned and controlled by veterans and service-disabled veterans, as well as provide veteran and service-disabled veteran owned small businesses priority in VA contracting.  The bill requires the VA to develop a report on methods to improve and streamline the process and procedures of administering education benefits.  It also requires the Department of Labor’s Veterans Employment and Training Service to work with the States to improve training, data management and performance measures regarding veterans employment programs, including licensing and certification programs. Finally, the bill authorizes the VA to make State Cemetery Grants to tribal organizations to establish, expand or improve veterans’ cemeteries on tribal lands, as well as provide government markers and memorial headstones for veterans buried in private cemeteries and for certain dependent children of veterans whose remains are unavailable for burial.

 

Passed by the House on July 24, 2006, referred to the Senate.

 

H. CON. RES. 347 – Honoring the National Association of State Veterans Homes and the 119 State Veterans Homes

 

Honoring the National Association of State Veterans Homes and the 119 State veterans homes providing long-term care to veterans that are represented by that association for their contributions to the health care of veterans and the health-care system of the Nation.

 

Passed by the House on July 25, 2006, referred to the Senate.