VFW says VA budget still too small

VFW Magazine, April, 2003 by Tim Dyhouse

The $28 billion the Bush Administration proposed in February for VA health care in fiscal year 2004 is some $2 billion short, according to VFW. "With an aging veterans population in need of health care and with 200,000 veterans waiting six months or more for their first appointment in VA, the health care system which veterans have come to depend on remains unable to respond to all of their needs," said VFW Commander-in-Chief Ray Sisk.

Sisk noted VA's January decision to suspend Category 8 enrollment (March Washington Wire) and the Administration's proposal to charge non-service connected veterans a $250 annual VA enrollment fee (see Service) as signs of a budget shortfall.

"Along with looking to veterans to cover an ever greater amount of the cost of operating the VA system, there is a very apparent move here to suppress demand for veterans medical care that VFW finds most disturbing," Sisk said.

The Bush Administration's proposed budget for VA medical care represents a 10.6% increase, or $2.7 billion, from last year's budget. It is the largest increase ever requested for VA by an Administration.

Specifically, the budget proposal would:

* increase medical care and research spending by $2.62 billion--to $26.2 billion;

* boost spending on burial benefits by $12 million--to $265 million--and open four new national cemeteries;

* provide $225 million for new facility construction; and

* include a proposal to restrict long-term nursing home care to veterans with severe service-connected disabilities.

Sisk added that VFW would conduct a letter-writing campaign targeting Congress and the Administration urging them to support mandatory funding for VA's health care system, a VFW priority goal.