Budget Issues Shouldn’t Interfere With Vets’ Health Care

October 8, 2009, WASHINGTON, D.C. – For more than two decades, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ health care system has been plagued by consistently late and, at times, inadequate budgets.  Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed bipartisan legislation to ensure timely funding for veterans’ health care.

“Our veterans deserve the best available care – red tape and bureaucratic budgetary issues shouldn’t get in the way of their health care,” said Congressman Bart Gordon, who strongly supported the bill’s passage.  “Over the years, the VA has had to make do with insufficient budgets resulting in restricted access for many veterans.  This bill will change that.”

In 19 of the past 22 years, the VA has not received its budgetary funding prior to the start of the fiscal year.  The legislation, the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act (H.R. 1016), would require the VA to provide detailed budgetary estimates sooner so that Congress can allocate funds for the VA’s medical care programs one year in advance of the start of each fiscal year. 

“My father and uncle served during World War II and they taught me the importance of taking care of those who volunteer to defend our country,” added Gordon.  “Delays in VA funding do a disservice to those who have served their country.  By streamlining the budgetary process, the VA will have up to a year to plan how to deliver the most efficient and effective care to our veterans.”

The bill would require the VA to submit a report each July on the resources it needs for the upcoming fiscal year in order for Congress to address any funding imbalances.  This will help to safeguard against the budget shortfalls that the VA has faced in recent years.

The bipartisan bill is supported by a coalition of veteran service organizations, including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS, and Disabled American Veterans, who have endorsed the bill as “an historic legislative victory on behalf of all veterans.” 

The bill now moves to the Senate where it is expected to pass and then be signed into law by the President.