Vet News

Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, June 23, 2009, the House of Representatives approved H.R. 1016, landmark legislation to secure timely funding for Veterans’ health care delivered through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, announced passage of the bill that would authorize the ‘advance appropriations’ process. The bill provides Congress greater ability to develop appropriation bills that provide sufficient funding to meet the best estimate of anticipated demand for VA health care services in future years by allowing funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical accounts one year in advance.

Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, said, “Today, this House of Representatives took action to respond to years of chronic underfunding of VA medical care. Over the last 22 years, 19 VA budgets have been passed late – and our Veterans pay the price with fewer doctors, longer waiting times, and more restricted access for the 6 million Veterans using VA health care. Members of the Committee have worked closely with Veteran service organizations to pass this landmark bill and guarantee that our Veterans have access to comprehensive, quality health care.”

H.R. 1016 would authorize Congress to approve Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care appropriations one year in advance of the start of each fiscal year. An advance appropriation would provide VA with up to one year in which to plan how to deliver the most efficient and effective care to an increasing number of Veterans with increasingly complex medical conditions. Unlike proposals to convert VA health care to a mandatory funding program, an advance appropriation does not create PAYGO concerns since VA health care funding would remain discretionary. Congress employs a PAYGO rule which demands that new proposals must either be budget neutral or offset with savings derived from existing funds.

Additionally, VA will be required to detail estimates in the budget documents it submits annually to Congress. Each July, the VA will be required to report to Congress if it has 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 VA facing budget shortfalls such as it faced just a few years ago.

Reform of the method in which the VA health care system is funded continues to be a top legislative priority for many Veteran service organizations. In a letter sent by eleven Veteran service organizations to Members of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, a vote for H.R. 1016 “will be among the most important for Veterans and their families that the Committee will take this year.” Representatives of these groups offered testimony in support of advance appropriations at a recent Committee hearing which focused on funding the VA of the future. (Testimony available here: HVAC Hearing Information)

Disabled American Veterans National Commander Raymond E. Dempsey said, “Today’s House approval of Chairman Filner’s advance appropriations legislation is a major step towards finally fixing the VA health care funding system, and ensuring that Veterans receive the medical services they need and deserve. DAV is grateful to Chairman Filner for working with the Partnership for Veterans Health Care Budget Reform in developing H.R. 1016 and for successfully moving it through the Committee and onto the House floor.”

Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, introduced a companion bill in the Senate, S. 423.

SOURCE: Press Release, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs