President Plans to Release VA Emergency Funding

Jan 10, 2008

WASHINGTON — An administration spokesperson announced today that the $3.7 billion dollars in emergency funding will be released when President Bush returns from his Middle East trip later this week.

The VFW, who earlier had encouraged its 2.3 million VFW and Auxiliary members to write to President Bush and congressional representatives, wants to thank everyone for all the letters and phone calls on this most important issue, which VFW officials said: "Demonstrates that by working together as advocates, we can make a difference on behalf of all veterans." 

Know that with your help the additional funding will allow VA to:

• Hire additional claims processors and train staff to reduce the ever-growing disability claims backlog;
• Treat our returning service members who put their lives on the line in Iraq and Afghanistan, by providing them with all the health care they need, including full mental health coverage and treatment for traumatic brain injuries and other war-related illnesses and disabilities; and 
• Care for the hundreds of thousands of sick and disabled veterans from other conflicts, particularly as many of them grow older. 

The VFW also would like to thank the president and Congress for keeping their promise to properly care for America’s veterans.