Four of the nation’s leading veterans service organizations —
AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Veterans
of Foreign Wars of the U.S. — are expressing their concerns with the
President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2015, which proposes $68.4 billion for the
Department of Veterans Affairs. The groups, who coauthor of The Independent
Budget (IB), a comprehensive budget and policy document, now look to
Congress to correct the funding deficiencies and to reconsider the
recommendations outlined in the IB — which calls for $72.9 billion to sufficiently meet veterans’ health care
and benefits needs.
Of
great concern to the veterans groups is the serious underfunding of VA
construction accounts. The President’s budget for construction is approximately
$2.75 billion less than what the IB recommends.
“While
we appreciate the increases offered by the Administration's Budget for FY 2015
and for advance appropriations for FY 2016, particularly with regards to health
care and benefits services, we have concerns that the serious lack of
commitment to infrastructure funding to support the system will undermine the
VA’s ability to deliver those services,” said The Independent Budget
authors. “We now look to Congress to correct the funding deficiencies.”
The
President’s budget proposes $61.9 billion for total medical care for FY 2016
advance appropriations and $589 million for medical and prosthetic research.
While The Independent Budget recommends $62.4 billion for total medical
care for FY 2016 advance appropriations and $611 million for medical and
prosthetic research.
Additionally
the President’s overall budget request for VA is approximately $4.5 billion
less than what the IB recommends for overall discretionary spending for
FY 2015.
This
marks the 28th year that The Independent Budget has been developed by
AMVETS, DAV, Paralyzed Veterans and VFW. The document is written by veterans
for veterans detailing funding requirements for VA. The Independent Budget
aims to present a full picture of veterans’ needs—and how government can meet
these needs.
The
full recommendations of The Independent Budget can be viewed at www.independentbudget.org.