Today, Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.) Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs released a statement after President Trump announced his fiscal year 2020 budget plan:
"Once again, President Trump has shown the world where his priorities lie - with our servicememebers and veterans. The President's $216.2 billion proposed fiscal year 2020 budget will allow VA to continue to improve and serve our veterans. I am pleased to see that VA received a record budget, particularly when it comes to investments in health care for our veterans.
"Last Congress, we passed a number of critical laws that VA is now beginning to implement. It's imperative that VA receives the funding it needs to implement all these laws, including the bipartisan VA MISSION Act. We also need to look at the outcomes of other VA programs, such as those related to mental health and homelessness, and use that information when allocating resources to ensure we're focusing on what works. And of course, we must make sure that VA receives proper funding as it begins the largest governmental overhaul of an electronic health record system in history, the Electronic Health Record Modernization Program (EHRM).
"The President's Budget for VA did exactly what the Republican Members of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs said it would in our letter of dissent to the majority's sadly partisan Views and Estimates letter to the Budget Committee. Namely, President Trump continues to prioritize funding for our veterans, even in a tight fiscal climate. I have no doubt that Congress will do the same."
