Veterans Budget Continues To Increase Under President Bush

[darrels joy]

VETERANS BUDGET CONTINUES TO INCREASE UNDER PRESIDENT BUSH

Washington, D.C.? A core group of veterans, those with service-connected disabilities, lower incomes and those with special needs, will receive greater focus under the President?s FY 2006 budget proposal for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Secretary Jim Nicholson gave testimony on the FY 2006 VA budget to the House Veterans? Affairs Committee that highlighted a 2.7 percent increase in discretionary programs over last year?s funding level.

House Veterans? Affairs Committee Chairman Steve Buyer (IN-04) stated, ?The President?s budget sets the correct priorities to ensure that those disabled, injured and lower income veterans receive access to high quality healthcare, while helping them transition to civilian life. Secretary Nicholson provided the Committee with the President?s forward-looking proposal that takes into account the demands of a country at war, with servicemembers returning home everyday in need of assistance.?

The President?s FY 2006 budget proposal totals $70.8 billion?$37.4 billion for mandatory programs and $33.4 in discretionary programs. This represents a 2.7 percent increase in discretionary funds over the enacted level of 2005. From 2001 to 2005, there has been a 47 percent increase in veterans health care funding.

?It is our job to receive the budget testimony today, to listen and learn about how this Administration seeks to ensure that our health care resources continue to be concentrated on care for enrolled veterans most in need of VA services, to make certain that our research continues to push the bounds of science in prosthetics, hearing and in other areas, to have a seamless transition from DOD to VA, to provide for the timely, accurate, and consistent claims determinations, and to make sure that those men and women who come back receive not just governmental assistance but receive the services we can provide to make them live,? Buyer added.
http://veterans.house.gov/news/109/2-16-05.html

Ah, politics.

Joy