by Tim Macy
District Office Intern

Last month, Congresswoman Boyda announced a successful step in her ongoing efforts to raise mileage reimbursements for veterans seeking health care. Congresswoman Boyda, her staff, the veterans who live in rural Kansas areas, and everyone who owns a car in America are all aware of the rising cost of gasoline. Men and women who served our country proudly during wartime and peacetime were being reimbursed for their mileage to and from the VA at 11 cents per mile -- which just doesn't do the trick anymore.

The new number is 28.5 cents per mile.  This represents a 159% increase and is a major step toward the long-term goal of a reimbursement rate of 48.5 cents per mile, a benchmark set by the Internal Revenue Service. This increase in mileage reimbursement is the first of its kind in 30 years, and the Congresswoman notes that it could not have happened if rural lawmakers and had not made their voices heard.

This month has brought more good news for veterans from Washington.  The U.S. House of Representatives approved a budget resolution on March 13th that will have a direct and positive impact on many Kansas residents, including veterans and their families. President Bush recently asked that the Department of Veterans Affairs and related agencies be given $44.9 billion for the 2009 fiscal year. Though this was an increase of $1.6 billion above the 2007 fiscal year, the increase was simply not enough to cover the rising costs of veterans’ health needs. The Committee on the Budget raised the previously mentioned figure to $48.2 billion, which is $3.2 billion more than the president’s request. This additional funding will be used to improve the care available to veterans.

The Committee on the Budget received many pledges of support from organizations such as AARP, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans and Veterans of Foreign Wars for its efforts to increase funding for 2009, specifically for veterans’ health care. The funding increases within the budget should help to remove some of the financial burden faced by the men and women veterans who rely on this service. Their years of service, their bravery and their many sacrifices have earned them the respect of an entire nation, and their access to proper health care is important to all of us.