I have some good news to report! Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee which I sit on passed the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill. The bill includes historic increases in the Veterans Affairs budget that will go to ensuring our troops and veterans have a first class health care system.
One of the most important things the bill does is it sets aside $43.2 billion which will help provide medical services (including mental health and substance abuse assistance) to veterans as well as help to improve VA facilities. This year’s bill represents a $6.7 billion increase over last year’s appropriations bill, and it also exceeds the President’s request for veterans’ care by $3.8 billion.
The bill contains some important new progams, such as setting aside $600 million to ensure that veterans with mental health difficulties and post-traumatic stress disorder receive the care they need. Additionally, the bill allocates $130 million to assist homeless veterans. This crucial increase will allow us to help 2,300 more homeless veterans than last year.
We also gave a $76.5 million increase in the Inspector General’s budget. This new money will help reverse the decline in the Inspector General’s staffing that we have seen over the last three years. Our bill will allow the Inspector General to hire 50 new people to ensure that the money we've invested in the program is spent wisely.
I am proud of this bill because it echos my strong belief that supporting our troops doesn't just end when they come home. We always need to ensure that the men and women who put their lives on the line for this country are taken care of when they need it the most.
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Posted by Congressman Tim Ryan (06-07-2007, 03:13 PM) filed under
General
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Comments:
Comment by: Samantha
June 10, 2007 10:56 AM
I like what I see in this bill and it is greatly appreciated.
Question: How are you going to help prevent our returning veterans from becoming homeless? I see you have a program to help the currently homeless but that does not "treat the cause just the symptom."
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Comment by: LARRY BURNS JR.
December 17, 2007 06:12 AM
DEAR CONGRESSMAN RYAN, I AM A 62 YEAR OLD, TWO TOUR, VIETNAM VETERN & LIVE IN YOUR DISTRICT. I WANT TO APPLAUD ( YOU ) ON ALL OF THE VERY GOOD THINGS YOU HAVE DONE. I WILL, AS MY FRIENDS WILL, CONTINUE TO VOTE FOR YOU, BUT ALL OF YOU DEMOCRATS ( MUST ) BAN TOGEATHER & ( STOP ) GIVING THOSE WAR MONGERING BUSH &M CHENEY, AMONG OTHERS, ALL THEY WANT & DO WHAT YOU WERE ALL PUT IN OFFICE FOR !!! SEEMS LIKE, ALL SHOW & NO GO !!! I AM 100 % DISABLED & I FULLY EXPECT YOU & THE REST OF THE DEMS TO START KICKING ASS IN WASHINGTON !!!!!!! HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SEASON. VERY RESPECTFULLY, LARRY BURNS JR. YOUNGSTOWN, ( LIBERTY TWP. ) OHIO, PS, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR HELPING ME WITH THE VA, WHEN I NEEDED IT BADLY !!! IF ( YOU ) EVER NEED HELP, & I CAN BE OF SERVICE TO YOU, JUST CALL ME AT ( 330 ) 759-1288 & I WILL CERTAINLY TRY MY BEST TO HELP YOU IN SOME WAY !!! THANK YOU AGAIN CONGRESSMAN RYAN & MAY THE DEAR LORD BLESS YOU ALWAYS... LBJ
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