Congress Continues Support for Veterans
May 9, 2005


The U.S. House of Representatives continues to keep faith with America's veterans by providing adequate funding for Veteran Administration programs for the new budget year. In fact, the 2006 Federal budget, which is currently being drafted in the House, continues a steady and significant trend of overall funding increases for the VA since Republicans took control of Congress ten years ago.

America's 26 million veterans helped secure our freedom and the nation should be ever grateful for their sacrifice. For the last decade, conservatives in Congress have ensured that veteran spending rises to keep pace with need. As a senior member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I am proud of the progress that has been made for VA healthcare and benefits since 1995; most notably, the VA's substantial 77 percent budget increase (from $38 billion to $67.9 billion) over the last ten years.

In keeping with Congress's ten-year increased commitment to VA funding, President Bush has similarly honored our veterans by supervising a solid 42 percent rise in VA spending during the five years he has been in office. Previously, total VA spending rose by a lesser 32 percent over the eight years that President Clinton was in the White House. Taken to the level of the individual veteran, payments per veteran have increased by 103 percent since 1995 versus a 43 percent increase during the prior ten years when Democrats controlled Congress. These are significant facts to consider in light of the continued charges by some national veteran service organizations and congressional liberals that Congress is "cutting" VA benefits. That is simply empty rhetoric.

Overall gains for veterans since 1995 are notable. In 1996 and 1999, Congress expanded eligibility for medical care, resulting in a jump in the number of veterans using VA healthcare from 2.5 million in 1995 to 4.8 million today. Over the same period, funding for veterans' medical care has increased by $16.2 billion. Veterans seeking Federal education assistance have seen the monthly payment levels rise under the popular Montgomery GI Bill from $405 to $1,004 - a whopping 147 percent increase.

What's more, military retirees injured in or while training for combat, or who are 50 percent or more service-disabled, may now for the first time in over a century receive retirement benefits as well as veterans disability compensation (Concurrent Receipt). This was a major benefit enhancement for our retired military that required a serious commitment from Congress and the White House to achieve.

On April 28, the U.S. House passed the Fiscal Year 2006 Budget Resolution which sets spending levels for the new Federal budget. The new Congressional budget blueprint spends nearly $69 billion on veterans programs - a $1 billion increase over 2005 levels. Specifically, it provides $31.7 billion for veteran benefits and services; $297 million more than was requested by the President this year. This funding will allow the VA to care for the more than 5.2 million patients and ensures that servicemembers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and their families receive timely, quality services.

Meeting the needs of an aging and growing veteran population is a continuing challenge. Congress recognizes that the VA must keep up with increasing demands on healthcare and benefits and, accordingly, is committed to providing the VA with the resources it needs to serve our veterans.