Budget Looks Out For Veterans' Needs

Budget Looks Out For Veterans' Needs

Rep. Boozman's Column for the Week of May 2, 2005

Welcoming Home Arkansas Soldiers Who Had Been in Iraq

Washington, May 2 - The compromise for the FY06 Budget passed the House of Representatives last week and little fanfare was given to the important increases in spending for veterans benefits included it. Chairman Buyer, myself and my colleagues on the House Veterans Affairs Committee worked hard to make sure the budget not only adequately funded veterans programs, but that it recognized that veterans funding is a priority for our nation.

First and foremost, the budget includes a $990 million increase in funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), with the majority this increase going to veterans health care programs. This is money that will come from the treasury, not by adding or increasing co-pays on our veterans. We also made sure that non-service connected veterans will not face new enrollment fees for accessing the VA health care system.

Some of the highlights of the funding increases include:

* A $12.6 million increase for medical and prosthetic research projects above the President's request;

* $45.6 million added above the President's request to begin a five-year, $300 million National Shrine Commitment project so that our national cemeteries are maintained as shrines;

* Meeting the President's request for a $100-million increase for mental health funding to help with illnesses like Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Also, we preserved the State Nursing Home Partnership which some sought to eliminate. The budget funds this program at $293 million. The State Nursing Home Partnership program is very important to Arkansas as our veterans population continues to increase and age. A new VA long-term care facility is currently under construction in Fayetteville, and this program is critical to the operation of the facility once it opens.

America's World War II and Korean War veterans are aging, our Vietnam veterans now entering their fifties and sixties, and thousands of young men and women are returning from fighting in the global war on terror. They need our support now more than ever, and we are taking that obligation seriously.

Since the Republicans assumed majority control of Congress in 1995, the VA's budget has increased 77%. Despite repeated false attacks, President Bush and Congress have increased spending on veterans by 42% in the past five years. Compare this to the 32% increase by the previous administration, and you will see that President Bush and our leadership in Congress are serious about keeping our promise to the men and women who sacrificed so much for our freedoms. My colleagues and I are committed to making veterans issues a priority in the 109th Congress, and we will continue to push for funding increases at every available opportunity.

http://www.boozman.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=8113