House Committee on Veterans' Affairs

Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, October 22, 2009, President Obama signed H.R. 1016 into law.  Public Law 111-81 secures timely funding for veterans’ health care delivered through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).  Bob Filner (D-CA), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, introduced the bill on February 12, 2009 in order to provide Congress greater ability to craft appropriation bills that provide sufficient funding to meet the best estimate of anticipated demand for VA health care services by allowing funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical accounts one year in advance. 

Chairman Filner offered the following statement: “Under this new law, Congress will write and approve two budgets for the VA this year: one to provide fiscal 2010 total funding and another to provide fiscal 2011 funding for certain VA medical accounts.  Now, veterans’ health care can be funded one year in advance of the regular appropriations process and will not be subject to political or legislative delays.  This needed reform of the budget and appropriations process will allow the Department of Veterans Affairs a more effective way to provide the highest quality care earned by men and women who have served in defense of our nation.”

H.R. 1016 authorizes Congress to approve Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care appropriations one year in advance of the start of each fiscal year.  An advance appropriation provides VA with up to one year in which to plan how to deliver the most efficient and effective care to an increasing number of veterans with increasingly complex medical conditions.  Additionally, VA will be required to detail estimates in the budget documents it submits annually to Congress.  Each July, the VA will be required to report to Congress if it has the resources it needs for the upcoming fiscal year in order for Congress to address any funding imbalances.  This will help to safeguard against the VA facing budget shortfalls such as it faced just a few years ago.

Filner provided the following comment after the signing ceremony: “What a great day for America’s veterans!  President Obama signed a law that will secure timely and predictable funding for the veterans health care system.  I would like to thank the dedicated veterans advocates for their leadership on this issue.  Together, we have worked to craft landmark legislation that will guarantee that our veterans have access to comprehensive, quality health care.  Their advocacy efforts were heard by the New Democratic leadership in Congress and supported by the President.  I am proud to witness this legislative victory – a historic day where we can stand together united behind a solution to fix VA health care funding once and for all.”   


 

President Barack Obama signs the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House, Oct. 22, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

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