FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  February 23, 2005

CONTACT: Geoffrey Collver @ 202/225-9756

 

 

 

 

 

 

                   http://veterans.house.gov/democratic/welcome.htm

 

Democrats Offer “Realistic” VA Budget,

Reject Administration's Misguided Cuts and Increased Fees

 

Washington, D.C. – “This is a budget I can stand behind,” said Rep. Lane Evans as he submitted Democrats’ budget views and estimates for the Department of Veterans Affairs to the House Budget Committee today.

 

Evans, the ranking Democratic member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, along with Democratic colleagues on the Committee, developed what Evans termed “a realistic budget” that is based on veterans’ needs and fills the gaps that the President’s budget request would create.

 

“The administration’s fiscal year 2006 budget submission for the VA is again deficient in numerous areas.  It fails to adequately fund the veterans’ health care system and seeks to put the burden on veterans themselves to make up the shortfall,” said Evans.

 

For discretionary spending, including medical programs, benefits administration, construction, and departmental administration, the Democratic budget requests additional funds over the administration in the amount of $3.2 billion ($2.6 billion, when a reasonable estimate of medical collections is included) for a total of $34 billion without collections and $36 billion, including collections. 

 

Specifically, for veterans’ health care Committee Democrats rejected the President’s budget request of $28.2 billion as it would underfund critical medical programs by $3 billion, providing a mere $100 million (0.36 %) over fiscal year 2005.  Committee Democrats also rejected the President’s call for a $250 enrollment fee and increased prescription drug co-payments for some veterans from $7 to $15.

 

“The VA health care system needs an additional $3 billion just to meet demand for current services and medical inflation,” Evans said.  “A flat-line budget for veterans’ health care during a time of war is unconscionable.  The administration must reevaluate its priorities and understand that veterans’ health care is a continuing cost of war,” Evans continued.

 

The Bush budget also proposes to greatly reduce the number of veterans it supports in institutional nursing care settings, just as states may have to deal with large cuts in Medicaid program funding.  In particular, the Bush budget proposes to drastically reduce the number of state residents VA will support in veterans’ state nursing homes – a program that VA has supported for decades.  The National Association of State Veterans Homes estimates adoption of this policy could potentially affect funding for as many as 80% of its residents and possibly lead to the closure of many of its programs.  Evans said the Democrats’ budget would maintain these programs and allow restoration of census to federally mandated levels in VA nursing homes.

 

To view the Committee Democrats’ budget views and estimates submission click here:  http://veterans.house.gov/democratic/welcome.htm