U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) called on President Bush today to provide the necessary funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system as his Administration continues to formulate its FY 2008 budget submission.

In a letter to the President, Rahall, along with a number of his Democratic colleagues, expressed concern over the Administration's record of underfunding the VA by at least $9 billion over the last 6 years. Of particular concern to the Congressman and his colleagues is veterans' funding next year and in the future as the Administration's budget submission this year reduced veterans' funding by $10 billion over the next five years.

"Providing for our military veterans and their families is a continuing cost of war and should be an important component of our national defense policy," Rahall said. "It is past time for the Republican Administration to change course and fully fund the VA, cease efforts to shift the costs of health care onto the backs of our veterans and finally recognize and implement the concept of ‘shared sacrifice' with respect to the federal budget."

During President Bush's tenure, health care waiting lines have increased, appointments and medical procedures delayed, more than 250,000 veterans have been turned away from entering the VA health care system, and disability and education claims backlogs have grown to unreasonable rates. Congress has been forced to add billions of dollars in supplemental VA funding because of shortfalls.

"What we are requesting of the Administration is simple," Rahall said. "We want funding that will ensure that our service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and the heroes from our previous conflicts receive the care and benefits they deserve."

Rahall's request to the President is part of his continued vigilance for veterans' healthcare. Last year, fearing that veterans would see their medical services cut off or delayed, Rahall joined Senator Byrd and a number of his colleagues in working to fill the funding shortfall. Rahall has also consistently supported eliminating the Administration's policy that excludes Priority 7 and 8 veterans from receiving healthcare, supported mandatory funding for veterans healthcare, and full concurrent receipt for retirement and disability pay. He is a co-sponsor of HR 515, the Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act.