Contact: Shana Stribling 202.224.0309
Monday, September 27, 2004

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO U.S. Senator Kit Bond today joined veterans, volunteers and staff at the Missouri Veterans Home in discuss the almost $2 billion in increased funding for Veterans Health Care Bond secured for our nation's veterans.

"When you told me that you are not receiving the health care you need, I listened ," said Bond. "I fought to increase funding for veterans health care in this bill and will continue to push the federal government to meet your needs. As our nation's veterans you have already sacrificed so much for our country, and it is our responsibility to meet your needs."

As chairman of the Senate VA-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Bond and Ranking Member, Senator Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) wrote the spending bill that funds the Department of Veterans affairs. Passed out of the full Senate Appropriations Committee last week, this bill meets the Senators' commitment to our nation's veterans – providing the VA medical care system with the resources needed to meet current and future needs.

Bond has worked tirelessly to improve compensation and claims processing while finding solutions to improve training and accountability within the VA system. In this year's spending bill he made the VA’s core constituents, those with service-connected disabilities, low-incomes, or those who need specialized services, the top priority.

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) will receive about $28.35 billion in funds, a $1.96 billion increase over the fiscal year 2004 enacted level and $1.22 billion increase over the President's request. Also, Bond fought to prevent veterans from being forced to pay additional fees, instead adding $1.2 billion in emergency funds. Without increasing fees, additional funds are necessary to ensure that VA can provide medical care services for our veterans. Also, these emergency funds will help meet the sudden and growing needs of returning veterans from the Iraqi and Afghanistan conflicts.

Bond's bill also provides $688.8 million in construction funding for VA’s medical care infrastructure. $552.9 million of these funds are dedicated to the “Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services” or CARES initiative. Bond stressed that this program is the most important effort ever undertaken by the VA to improve access and care for veterans. To move this important program forward, the bill includes authority for the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to transfer up to $250 million to the CARES program. This transfer authority is critical because buildings that are no longer suitable for the delivery of modern health care cost the VA money that could be spent on health care needs and to provide quality care to more veterans closer to where they live.

In addition, the bill also provides an additional $21 million to the VA medical and prosthetic research program and $75 million for operating expenses to prevent staff reductions in processing VA disability claims benefits.