FY 2006 Appropriation                             $85.0 billion (+$37.2 billion Mandatory)

President’s FY 2007 Request                  $95.5 billion (+$41.4 billion Mandatory)

FY 2007 bill                                               $94.7 billion (+$41.4 billion Mandatory)

 

-    Providing historic levels of funding for Veterans Medical Services:  The committee for the first time ever used the Veterans Service Organization’s Independent Budget as the base-line for FY 2007 funding.  The committee adopted the veterans groups’ recommendations to increase funds by 6.3% to accommodate the spike in veterans returning from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.   In addition, the committee increases resources for mental health services, prosthetics and dental care.  Total funding is $25,412,000,000, $2.6 billion above last year’s level and $100 million below the President’s request. 

 

-   Improving Administration of Care:  $100 million was shifted from Medical Services to Medical Administration to ensure that care is being administered effectively and to help avoid potential shortfalls in funding.  The bill also increases resources by $45 million to support information technology initiatives which would ensure continuity of operations and consolidate overlapping functions thus decreasing operating costs. 

 

-   Proposed Fees for Veterans:  Does not contain additional fees as proposed in the Administration’s request.

 

-   Expanding Community-Based Outpatient Clinics:  The bill increases resources by $25 million to open a minimum of 10 clinics in fiscal year 2007.  These clinics are popular with veterans because they provide more convenient care than traditional large hospital facilities. 

 

-  Improving State Veteran’s Homes:  The bill increases resources by $20 million over last year’s level and the request to make facility improvements in existing state veteran’s homes. 

 

-   Supporting Medical Research:  The bill increases funds by $13 million for basic research for a total of $412 million.  In addition, $12 million was added to start upgrading VA medical research facilities nationwide.

 

-   Mandatory Veteran’s Benefits are increased $4.2 billion over last year.

-    Total military construction funding is $6.6 billion, $5.6 billion for active duty construction and $1.0 billion for reserve components.

 

-    $4.0 billion for family housing construction and operations to continue the goal of providing adequate housing for our service-members and their families. 

The defense health program is increased by $1 billion over last year.  Total funding is $21 billion, the same as the budget request. 

Base realignment and closure activities are funded at $5.5 billion.  These funds are for the implementation and administration of the current and prior rounds of BRAC activities. 

 

 

#####