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Photo by Sarah Conard |
Washington, DC (June 14, 2007) – The American Legion, the nation’s largest veterans organization, applauds the efforts of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA), Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt (SC), Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (WI), and Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Chet Edwards (TX) for producing an appropriations bill for the Department of Veterans Affairs that coincides with the recommendations made by The American Legion.
“Last September, I outlined The American Legion’s funding recommendations for VA to the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee,” said National Commander Paul A. Morin. “Unfortunately, the House Veterans Affairs Committee chose not to participate in that hearing because former Chairman Steve Buyer (IN) felt such hearings weren’t productive. But, obviously, many of Mr. Buyer’s colleagues were listening and, more importantly, they took action.”
The House is scheduled to take up H.R. 2642, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations for FY 2008, in the near future. This bill cleared the full Appropriations Committee in a 56-0 vote.
“It is my hope that this much-needed increase in VA funding is not met with opposition by Congress or the administration,” Morin added.
“We as a nation cannot ignore the cost of providing health care to the brave men and women who answer the call to arms,” Morin emphasized. “Simply put, this is an ongoing cost of war and the VA needs to be properly funded.”
Since the 109th Congress failed to pass a VA budget for FY 2007, the new 110th Congress added $3.5 billion in increased funding to VA in a continuing resolution in February. Another $1.7 billion was added in the Emergency Defense Supplemental for FY 2007 passed just prior to the Memorial Day congressional recess. Now, H.R. 2642 would provide VA with a record $43.2 billion in discretionary appropriations. This unprecedented VA budget would be an increase of $3.8 billion more than the president’s request ($4.9 billion more than existing appropriations, including the two increases passed this year, and $8.9 billion more than the FY 2006 appropriations).
“I call on every member of Congress, in both chambers, and the president to support this funding level and to take swift action to enact H.R. 2642 into law before the start of the new fiscal year,” Morin said. “I look forward to working with VA Secretary Nicholson toward the prudent expenditure of every dollar to provide timely access to quality health-care services and dramatic improvements in VA benefit claims processing.”
Founded in 1919, the 2.7 million-member American Legion is the nation’s largest service organization for veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, including active duty, National Guard and reserves, and their families. A powerful voice for veterans in Washington, The American Legion drafted the original GI Bill and was instrumental in establishing the agency that today is the federal Department of Veterans Affairs.
Comments (1)
Thank you and well done!
Posted by Hal Donahue | 06/14/07 4:20 PM |