From Virginia State Countil 3/12/05)
VVA Legislative Update: March 11, 2005
The Senate Budget Committee approved its $2.56 trillion fiscal 2006 budget resolution on Thursday by a 12-10 vote, the House Budget Committee approved its $2.6 trillion fiscal 2006 budget resolution on Wednesday by a 22-15 vote. The budget approved by the Senate budget committee included the following text: The Chairman’s Mark omits the President’s proposal to create a new $250 enrollment fee and to increase prescription drug co-pays for priority-level 7 and 8 veterans. Since fiscal year 2002, President Bush’s first budget submission, the total veteran’s budget has grown by $16 billion or 30.8 percent and discretionary spending has increased by $7.8 billion or 30.8 percent. http://www.senate.gov/~budget/republican/ click on summary of Chairman’s Mark
Both the House and Senate will consider their budget resolutions next week before leaving town for a two-week recess
Veteran’s amendments adopted by the Senate Budget Committee http://budget.senate.gov/
Stabenow, D-Mich. — Sense of the Senate that funding for state-run homes that provide medical care for veterans should be increased. Accepted by unanimous consent.
(Text of Stabenow amendment)
Purpose: To express the sense of the Senate rejecting the proposed elimination of
per diem payments for the vast majority of patients that reside in State Veterans
Homes contained in the President's budget.
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
"Sec. . Sense of the Senate Rejecting proposed elimination of per diem reimbursement to State Nursing Homes in the President's budget.
(a) Findings. - The Senate finds that -
(1) State Veterans Homes are the largest deliverers of long-term care to our nation's veterans and they playa critical role in ensuring that eligible veterans receive the benefits, services, quality long-term health care, and respect that they have rightfully earned; (2) For more than 100 years, the Federal government has provided support for the State Veterans Homes; and (3) For more than 100 years, the Federal government has provided support for the State Veterans Homes; and
The President's budget would severely cut the assistance provided to these homes and by some estimates eliminate funding for over 80 percent of current residents in State Veterans Homes.
Sense of the Senate. - It is the Sense of the Senate that Congress should reject the President's proposal to eliminate per diem payments to State Veterans Homes for the vast majority of patients that reside in these homes."
Veteran’s amendments adopted by House Budget Committee
http://www.house.gov/budget/
Bradley, R-N.H., amendment to add $229 million in discretionary funds to Veterans Benefits and Services (function 700) in fiscal 2006 and $1.15 billion over five years. It would take this money from International Affairs (function 150). Adopted by voice vote.
(Text of Bradley amendment)
SUMMARY
This amendment will increase new discretionary budget authority for Veterans by $229 million in fiscal year 2006 and by $1.15 billion over the next 5 years.
The amendment provides for an increase in the Department of Veterans Affairs' medical care funding. This increase could allow for greater resources to be devoted to medical services, medical administration, or medical facilities.
RATIONALE
This amendment would increase discretionary spending for Function 700, Veterans Benefits and Services, and decrease the allocation for Function 150, International Affairs, by a like amount. The expectation is that in fiscal year 2006 an additional $229 million will be available for VA medical care.
As shown in chart 69, over the last several years the Republican Congress has acknowledged the debt the Nation owes its veterans by providing large increases in the funds allocated to veterans benefits and services. Since 1999, budget authority for Veteran’s medical care has risen from $17.8 billion to almost $30 billion this year.
As a result of legislation passed in 1996 the number of veterans eligible for medical care has nearly doubled. As shown in chart 73, the number of veterans eligible for medical care has increase from 2.5 million in 1995 to 4.8 million today.
As scored by OMB, the President' budget recommended $33.4 billion, including collections, for VA discretionary programs for fiscal year 2006. This included $30.7 billion for VA medical care. This represents a $739 million, 2.5 percent, increase for VA medical care. The House Committee on Veterans Affairs recommended an additional increase of $307 million for veteran’s medical care.
As rescored by CBO, the total discretionary funding, including collections, for VA programs in the President's budget is $31.7 billion. The Chairman's Mark increases Function 700 (Veterans Benefits and Services) funding above the President's request.
This amendment would add an additional $229 million in budget authority to this discretionary total.
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