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White House Budget Proposal Close, But Not a Winner, Say Veteran's Groups(Comtex Business Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge)WASHINGTON, Feb 10, 2006 (U.S. Newswire via COMTEX) --Organizations representing millions of America's veterans are urging Congress to increase the fiscal year 2007 Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) budget proposal by more than $2 billion to meet the crucial health care needs of our nation's veterans and eliminate an administration plan to create new fees and double prescription co-payments for some veterans. President Bush's VA budget proposal, released Feb. 6, calls for health care spending of $34.3 billion in fiscal year 2007, which is claimed to be an 11.3 percent increase in health care spending. The figure, however, includes an estimated $2.8 billion generated from third-party payments, enrollment fees and higher prescription drug costs for veterans. When the onerous fees and high pharmacy costs are removed from the equation, veterans health care would be funded at $31.5 billion, which is less than needed, according to The Independent Budget. All the organizations oppose balancing the budget on the backs of veterans. AMVETS, the Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, say that Congress needs to increase the President's budget request for VA medical services alone by $1.2 billion to adequately maintain veterans' health care in fiscal year 2007. An assessment of VA's funding needs and other recommendations were included in the 20th annual The Independent Budget presented to Congress and the Administration. The organizations that comprise The Independent Budget are urging Congress to provide needed funding to ensure timely, quality health cares services to veterans while rejecting any new fees or increased pharmacy costs for veterans. The organizations have also expressed concern about inadequate staffing levels at the VA's Veterans Benefits Administration, saying there are too few employees to properly decide disability compensation claims submitted to the VA. The backlog exceeds 810,000 claims for compensation, pension and education benefits which are awaiting adjudication or are on appeal. The veterans groups are also concerned that faulty accounting methods and unrealistic assumptions by the VA were again obscuring the true funding needs for veterans health care. A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that unrealistic assumptions, errors in estimates, insufficient data and an unresponsive budget model contributed to last year's VA health care funding shortfalls. It also said funding needs projections fell short due to understating the number of returning Iraq War and Afghanistan veterans needing health care and the increased requirements for long-term care. To counteract the shortfall, Congress approved a $1.5 billion emergency supplemental appropriation to fill the funding gap. That amount was nearly identical to the shortfall The Independent Budget identified in veterans medical care that year. The VA health care budget shortfall demonstrated The Independent Budget recommendations are credible and well- considered policy and funding proposals based on the actual needs of the men and women these programs were created to serve. The 2007 budget proposal is taking on a greater sense of urgency this year because wounded and injured veterans continue to return from military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere adding to the fiscal strain on the VA health care system. Now in its 20th year, The Independent Budget is a full- funding, needs-based budget which seeks to ensure that veterans' needs are fully and properly met. To view or download a copy of this year's The Independent Budget from the Internet, go to http://www.independentbudget.org. ------ AMVETS-a leader since 1944 in preserving the freedoms secured by America's Armed Forces-provides not only support for veterans and the active military in procuring receipt of their earned entitlements, but also community services that enhance the quality of life for this nation's citizens. Website: http://www.amvets.org The 1.3 million-member Disabled American Veterans, a nonprofit organization founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932, is dedicated to one, single purpose: building better lives for our nation's disabled veterans and their families. Website: http://www.dav.org The Paralyzed Veterans of America, a veterans service organization chartered by Congress, has for more than 50 years served the needs of its members, all of whom have catastrophic paralysis caused by spinal cord injury or disease. Website: http://www.pva.org The VFW is a 1.8 million-member veterans' service organization, now in its 107th year, with a nationwide network of some 8,600 Posts and service officers working to build better communities and assist all veterans and their dependents with problems involving VA entitlements and pensions. Website: http://www.vfw.org http://www.usnewswire.com David Greineder of AMVETS, 301-683-4015, Dave Autry of Disabled American Veterans, 202-314-5219, David J. Uchic of Paralyzed Veterans of America, 202-416-7667, Joe Davis of Veterans of Foreign Wars, 202-608-835 |