U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) announced today that the budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs under the fiscal year 2007 Joint Funding Resolution is $3.6 billion higher for veterans medical care than the budget approved by the previous Congress. Rahall, an outspoken supporter of our Nation's veterans, said that the increase will help the VA health care system better keep up with inflation and the increasing number of veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

"This funding increase will provide $278 million dollars more a month for the VA system," Rahall said. "This increase is essential if we want to avoid harmful cuts in health care services and the sooner we pass this legislation and send it to the President the better it will be for our brave servicemen and women."

The House is expected to vote on the fiscal year 2007 Joint Funding Resolution Wednesday.

In the past, Rahall has fought time and time again for a significant increase in VA health care funding.

In 2005, the Bush Administration underfunded veterans' medical care by more than $1 billion. Fearing that veterans would see their medical services cut off or delayed, Senator Byrd, Rahall and a number of their colleagues went to work to fill the funding shortfall, and were successful.

Last November, Rahall again joined Sen. Byrd in challenging the Republican Leadership to move ahead with legislation that included $33 billion for veterans care, a $3 billion increase from last year.

"Why the previous congressional leadership drug their heels on this important veterans' health care funding bill, instead allowing funding to proceed for the last four months at last year's funding levels is beyond me, but this bill will correct that wrong," Rahall said. "On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no solider behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind. I sincerely believe our primary duty as citizens of this great nation is to secure the liberties delivered by those who came before us and to pass along those same liberties, untarnished, to those who will, in coming generations, heed the call for military service. I applaud Sen. Byrd and Chairman Obey for writing a bill that clearly makes veterans our top priority."

To salute our veterans and soldiers, Rahall is also supporting a comprehensive New GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century. In 1944, Congress enacted the original GI Bill of Rights to honor the Greatest Generation. In doing so, the federal government supported our returning troops with educational benefits, loans to buy a home and medical assistance. And in each major military conflict since, we have honored the service of those who wore the uniform with a new GI bill.

Rahall is also continuing his efforts this year to fight for an end to the Disabled Veterans' Tax. While we have succeeded in getting a partial repeal, this unfair tax should be repealed for the remaining 400,000 disabled military retirees. Those who have sacrificed so much should receive all of their promised benefits and I am working to force action on this critical issue.

"Americans sent a strong signal to our government that they want, and our servicemen and women deserve, a clearer vision for our future abroad and at home," Rahall said. "I remain vigilant in working with a new Congress and the President to find a solution to Iraq and to ensuring that once we bring our troops home, they receive the benefits they deserve."