DeLauro: Record Funding will Sustain Efforts to Improve Services for Veterans and Military Personnel

Press Release

Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) applauded the significant commitment of resources, which builds upon last year's historic investment, to provide for our veterans in the fiscal year 2009 Military Construction and Veteran Affairs Appropriations Bill. With a second year of record level-funding for veterans' health care, support for military facilities and new measures, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will better be able to care for the men and women who served our country. The bill was approved by the full Appropriations Committee and will now be debated by the House, following passage there, the legislation will also need to be voted on by the Senate, approved by both chambers and signed by the President.

"Unlike with previous wars, we are fortunate that more of our brave men and women are returning from the battlefield. It is our duty to ensure that when they return we are able to meet their needs and provide them with the care they deserve. With the second year of record funding, we are sending a message to our troops that we will meet that responsibility," said DeLauro.

The fiscal year 2009 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill continues the work begun with the fiscal year 2008 bill, which included the largest single funding increase in the 77 year history of the Veterans Administration ($6.7 billion). For fiscal year 2009, the bill provides $47.7 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs - $2.9 billion more than the President's request and $4.6 billion more than fiscal year 2008; and $24.8 billion for Military Construction, Family Housing and BRAC - $400 million above the President's request.

Of interest to Connecticut , the bill includes $7.2 million for critical engine shop upgrades for the Connecticut Air National Guard at Bradley International Airport . This funding for upgrades - made at the request of the entire delegation - will allow the 103rd Fighter Wing to support its interim mission of serving as the home base for the C-21.

In referencing the resources for mental health, DeLauro added, "It is important that we are meeting the psychological needs of these men and women, in addition to their physical needs. With rising suicide rates for soldiers - last year the Army experienced the highest rate in 26 years of record-keeping - meeting their mental health needs is even more important."

The bill ensures that the Department will spend no less than $3.8 billion on specialty mental health services and $584 million on Substance Abuse programs. It restores the $58 million cut taken by the Department for medical research in trauma, mental health and other areas that are critical to finding the best treatments for our veterans, and to increase funding for research in areas that are most important to the veteran population. Additionally, it includes language to increase oversight in this critical area to making certain that the Department is able to provide the best care now and in the future, for our veterans with mental illness; with PTSD; who struggle with substance abuse; who are thinking of suicide; and who suffer from military sexual trauma.

Other key provisions of the bill include:

- The resources to hire 1,400 new claims processors in addition to the 703 additional personnel
that were included in the budget submission;

- $300 million to address the backlog in non-recurring maintenance at our medical facilities;

- $116 million more to increase availability of new generation prosthetics;

- $40 million more to provide the additional case workers and medical services needed for our
homeless veterans; and

- An additional $11 million for the Office of Inspector General to restore the cuts proposed by
the President and to provide additional personnel to inspect the community based outpatient
clinics and Vet Centers.

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