The FY 2005 budget for programs run by the Department of Veterans Affairs has been the subject of universal criticism and, in fact, VA Secretary Anthony J. Principi stated he had requested $1.2 billion more from the President. The Nation’s major veterans service organizations believe the budget is billions short of addressing VA needs. Congressional Democrats have opposed the President’s call for increase veterans’ copayments, imposition of a new enrollment fee and management efficiencies to bolster his proposed VA budget.

February 2, 2004: President makes request for funding federal government
$32.1 billion in budget authority; $29.7 billion excluding collections ($27 billion for medical care service line, excluding collections)-request includes savings and revenues from new policy and legislative proposals, including new user fees, copayments and restrictions on access to long-term care services totaling $1.3 billion-savings from “management efficiencies” comprise another $340 million of budget request

February 2004: Independent Budget co-authors--four major veterans’ service organizations--submit their budget for discretionary programs for FY 2005
$33.6 billion in budget authority ($30.7 billion for medical care)

February 26, 2004: Chairman Christopher H. Smith and Ranking Member Lane Evans submit Views & Estimates to House Budget Committee on behalf of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee
$34.1 billion in budget authority; $32.2 billion excluding collections ($29.4 billion for medical care, excluding receipts)

March 12, 2004: Senate approves S.Con.Res. 95
$31.7 billion in budget authority excluding collections

March 25, 2004: House approves H.Con.Res. 393
$31 billion in budget authority excluding collections

May 19, 2004: The conference report on S. Con Res. 95 passed.

FY 2005 VA Discretionary Budget (Excluding Collections)