Vets groups want more money for VA budget
Published: February 16, 2011
WASHINGTON – The White House in its new budget proposal has asked for about 3 percent more in discretionary spending for the Department of Veterans Affairs than it did a year ago, making the VA one of only a few agencies scheduled for a funding boost. And while veterans groups are praising that news, they’d also like to see just a little bit more.
On Monday, a coalition of veterans advocacy groups – authored by AMVETS, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S., Disabled American Veterans and Paralyzed Veterans of America – released its annual Independent Budget, which calls for $65.3 billion in VA discretionary spending next fiscal year.
That’s about $3.5 billion more than what the president requested, although authors of the report are careful to call that extra figure a point for discussion and not a demand.
“In light of the fiscal climate, AMVETS and the Independent Budget partners view the president’s budget proposal for VA as a good jumping-off point,” AMVETS National Commander Jerry Hotop said in a statement. “However, it falls short of what we know the veterans’ community needs — particularly with regard to prosthetics research and construction.”
Major construction projects make up the bulk of the difference. The Independent Budget calls for nearly $1.7 billion more in spending there than the president’s budget proposal, particularly to accelerate completion of new buildings already underway.
But the outside plan also calls for about $110 million more than requested in prosthetics research, $220 million more for information technology improvements, $300 million more in staffing for the Veterans Benefits Administration, and $125 million more in grants to state extended care facilities housing veterans.
"The VA has great plans to better care for women veterans and those suffering from Traumatic Brain Injuries and other traumas,” Richard Eubank, national commander of the VFW of the US, said in a statement with the budget release. “But it takes funding, an infrastructure, and a commitment by a nation that creates veterans to fulfill its sacred obligation to care for them when they return home wounded and disabled.”
VA officials will testify before the House on their budget proposal on Thursday. Veterans groups will also make their pitch to lawmakers in coming weeks.
