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WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Allen Boyd (D-North Florida), a member of the Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, today applauded House passage of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (HR 2642). In working to fulfill our commitment to our veterans, the bill includes a $6.7 billion increase for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) budget, the largest increase in our nation’s history, and an $8.2 billion increase in military construction above 2007 levels.
“Providing quality medical care is a promise that we have made to our brave men and women in uniform, and it is not only our duty, but our moral obligation to do so,” said Congressman Boyd. “This bill will allow us to improve care for our nation’s 5.5 million veterans, including the 75,500 veterans in North Florida.”
The legislation provides the VA with a total of $43.2 billion for medical care, additional claims processing personnel, and facility improvements so that veterans will receive better healthcare, more mental health and post-traumatic stress disorder services, and shorter waiting times for doctors’ appointments.
“We must remember that the costs of war include the costs of providing quality healthcare to our returning troops,” Boyd stated. “I hope this bill sends a clear message to our servicemen and women, their families, and our veterans that we, as a nation, respect their service and sacrifice and we will honor the commitment we have made to them.”
Additionally, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act enhances accountability to stop wasteful spending by increasing funding for the Inspector General for the VA to improve services for veterans and their families and to prevent and deter potential waste, fraud, and inefficiencies.
All of the major veterans groups have strongly endorsed this legislation, including Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, Disabled Veterans of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Military Officers Association of America, Association of the United States Army, National Association for Uniformed Services, and AMVets.
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