DAV asks for help!

[Gimpy]

From: "Lisa Bogle, Disabled American Veterans"


Date: Thu, 21 Jul 2005 11:44:54 -0400 (EDT)


Washington Update, House of Representatives

Take Action!


July 21, 2005


The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has reported a shortage of needed funding to care for eligible veterans, including veterans of the current overseas wars. VA has admitted to Congress in making a request for $1.977 billion more than it said it needed only six months ago, that it had erred in forecasting the actual number of veterans who will need VA in the new federal fiscal year that begins in October. In addition, after years of denial by VA, Secretary Jim Nicholson has revealed to Congress VA?s shortfall for this year is about $1.2 billion.

House Appropriations


On receiving this shortfall news from Secretary Nicholson two weeks ago, the House hastily passed a new supplemental appropriations bill to add $975 million to VA?s health care account this year--only to discover last week that VA?s shortage was even higher. The House bill is now stalled in the Senate.

As members of Congress return to their states and districts for the summer recess with differences between VA funding levels pending before the House and Senate, conferees from both chambers must come to an agreement before the VA receives anything. Whichever approach is used to address the immediate fiscal needs of VA, Congress must act quickly to resolve this reprehensible situation. Moreover, looming is the fiscal 2006 gap attributed to the same weaknesses in VA?s and the adminstration's funding methodology that led to this year?s unbelievable situation.

? First we urge you to contact your Representatives to thank them for their efforts to ensure VA receives the additional funding needed to treat sick and disabled veterans.

? Second we ask that you call upon Representatives to ensure the fiscal year 2006 increase of $3.35 billion remains in the conference agreement and to support increased funding to meet veterans? health care needs.

? Third, tell your Representatives that VA?s method of forecasting budgetary needs has proven itself to be a failure, leaving thousands of veterans without vital health care. The DAV has recommended a method to guarantee VA adequate funding, and a number of bills have been introduced to make that change. At a minimum, Congress needs to hold hearings to look at better ways to ensure stable funding to care for America?s sick and disabled veterans.

Your help is vital: call or write your Representatives today.

Senate Appropriations

2005 Supplemental: The Senate plans to act this week on its own bill on the VA supplemental appropriation by approving $1.5 billion in new funds for fiscal year 2005 as a part of Senate consideration of the 2006 Interior appropriations bill. The Senate Majority Leader has indicated the Senate?s intention to complete work on VA?s supplemental 2005 appropriation before Congress adjourns for its summer recess, an adjournment currently scheduled for July 29th.

If the President approves this legislation, desperately needed new funding will flow immediately to VA.


2006 Full Appropriation : The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans? Affairs has reported an appropriations bill for fiscal year 2006 that would provide VA health care $34.1 billion for fiscal year 2006, an increase of $3.35 billion over the current fiscal year funding level (not considering the eventual supplemental funds pending approval by both houses of Congress).

The full Appropriations Committee is scheduled to act on this bill before adjournment, but a Committee of Conference with the House will be necessary to resolve differences between the Senate and House funding levels for VA health care. This conference is not likely to be held before Congress returns to Washington after Labor Day, September 5th.

As members of Congress return to their states and districts for the summer recess with differences between VA funding levels pending before the House and Senate, conferees from both chambers must come to an agreement before the VA receives anything. Whichever approach is used to address the immediate fiscal needs of VA, Congress must act quickly to resolve this reprehensible situation. Moreover, looming is the fiscal 2006 gap attributed to the same weaknesses in VA?s and the administration's funding methodology that led to this year?s unbelievable situation.

? First we urge you to contact your Senators to thank them for their efforts to ensure VA receives the additional funding needed to treat sick and disabled veterans.

? Second we ask that you call upon Senators to ensure the fiscal year 2006 increase of $3.35 billion remains in the conference agreement and to support increased funding to meet veterans? health care needs.

? Third, tell your Senator that VA?s method of forecasting budgetary needs has proven itself to be a failure, leaving thousands of veterans without vital health care. The DAV has recommended a method to guarantee VA adequate funding, and a number of bills have been introduced to make that change. At a minimum, Congress needs to hold hearings to look at better ways to ensure stable funding to care for America?s sick and disabled veterans.

Your help is vital: call or write your Senators today.