Pelosi Urges President to Appoint New VA Secretary Who Will Ensure Veterans Receive Health Care They Deserve
'Secretary Nicholson's resignation provides President Bush with an opportunity to break with the Administration's history of underfunding VA health care and work with Congress to meet the needs of America's veterans.
'The President's repeated failure to request adequate funding for the VA has undermined the quality of health America promised to our veterans. A recent VA report outlined 1,000 specific problems at VA facilities around the country. There is also a backlog of more than 400,000 veterans benefit claims waiting to be processed by the VA.
'To bring change to Washington and finally begin to meet the needs of returning veterans from Iraqand Afghanistan, House Democrats passed the largest increase in veterans' health care in the 77-year history of the VA and provided for improvements in VA benefits totaling nearly $12 billion.
'With the VA expected to treat 5.8 million patients in the coming year - including more than 260,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans - we must invest in the health care and benefits we promised our returning heroes. I urge the President to appoint a new VA Secretary who will work with the Democratic Congress to ensure that our veterans receive the health care and benefits that they were promised and that they deserve.'
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July 17, 2007
DEMOCRATIC-LED CONGRESS: HONORING AND KEEPING OUR PROMISE TO AMERICA'S VETERANS
The 110th Congress has voted for historic increases in veterans' health care and benefits programs, totaling nearly $12 billion, to meet the needs of returning veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, make up for the Bush Administration's past shortchanging of veterans, and keep the President's proposed fee increases from hitting veterans.
KEY BILLS THE 110th CONGRESS HAS PASSED INTO LAW:
FY 2007 Funding (H.J.Res. 20; P.L. 110-5)
\xc2\xb7 The $3.4 billion increase over fiscal year 2006 in VA funding will provide services to meet rising health care costs and account for the influx of an estimated 219,000 new veterans entering the VA system in 2007.
Iraq Accountability Act - FY 2007 Supplemental (H.R. 2206; P.L. 110-28)
\xc2\xb7 Provides about $2 billion more than the President requested for military health care at Walter Reed and other hospitals, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder/Counseling and Traumatic Brain Injury care and research.
\xc2\xb7 Provides $1.8 billion more for veterans' health care to address the needs of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans (including mental health care and benefit claims) and the backlog in maintaining VA health facilities; the Administration requested no money for VA health care.
FY 2008 Budget Resolution/Veterans Funding (S.Con.Res. 21)
\xc2\xb7 The largest veterans' budget increase in American history -- $6.7 billion more than last year.
\xc2\xb7 Invests $32 billion over five years above the President's budget.
\xc2\xb7 Rejects Administration plan to impose new enrollment fees for veterans' health care and nearly double drug co-payments for one million veterans.
\xc2\xb7 Commended by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS, MOAA, Paralyzed Veterans of America, andIraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
KEY BILLS THAT HAVE PASSED THE HOUSE:
Military Construction/VA Spending Bill for FY 2008 (H.R. 2642)
\xc2\xb7 Increases the VA budget by $6.7 billion above the FY07 level, the largest single increase in the 77-year history of the Veterans Administration and $3.8 billion above the President's request for FY08.
\xc2\xb7 For the first time, the budget for VA medical accounts exceeds the Independent Budget prepared by veterans' service organizations by $294 million -- for the largest increase in VA health care in American history
\xc2\xb7 Significantly reduces the 400,000 claims backlog by adding more than 1,100 new claims processors.
\xc2\xb7 Provide much-needed maintenance of VA health care facilities to prevent a Walter Reed-type scandal from occurring in the VA system (funding is $500 million above the President's request).
\xc2\xb7 Provides $600 million more for mental health, PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury than the President and makes five polytrauma centers and three Centers of Excellence for Mental Health and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) fully operational. One-third of veterans returning from Iraq andAfghanistan face mental health challenges, and up to 300,000 returning troops are expected to suffer from TBI.
\xc2\xb7 All of the major veterans' groups strongly endorsed the bill - including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disabled Veterans of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Military Officers Association of America, Association of the United States Army, National Association for Uniformed Services, and AMVETS - calling it a 'major victory' and an 'impressive commitment' to our veterans.
Wounded Warrior Assistance Act (H.R. 1538):
\xc2\xb7 Takes the first step to address the problems brought to light by the inadequate living conditions and the administrative challenges experienced by some patients at WalterReedArmyMedicalCenter.
\xc2\xb7 Improves outpatient medical care for wounded service members at military health care facilities;
\xc2\xb7 Begins restoring integrity and efficiency to disability evaluations and cutting bureaucratic red-tape; and
\xc2\xb7 Improves the transition of wounded service members from the Armed Forces to the VA system.
DOD Upgrade Military Health Care for our Troops & Military Retirees (H.R. 1585)
\xc2\xb7 Prohibits fee increases in TRICARE and TRICARE pharmacy program for service members and retirees.
\xc2\xb7 Restores 2,300 medical personnel and fully funds military health facility maintenance.
\xc2\xb7 Launches a Military Mental Health Initiative and Traumatic Brain Injury Initiative.
Improve VA Health Insurance for Returning Service Members (H.R. 612)
\xc2\xb7 Makes those who have served in combat in the Persian Gulf War or future hostilities eligible for health care for five years after discharge, instead of two years, to help veterans who might have post-traumatic stress disorder, which may not be immediately evident.
Traumatic Brain Injury/Rural Veterans Outreach (H.R. 2199)
\xc2\xb7 Ensures that our veterans are properly screened for Traumatic Brain Injury (the signature injury of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan) and, if diagnosed, receive the appropriate treatment.
\xc2\xb7 Provide rural communities with 'mobile vet centers' for mental health services and benefits outreach.
Veterans Outreach Improvement Act (H.R. 67)
\xc2\xb7 Allows the VA to partner with state and local governments to reach out to veterans and their families to ensure they receive their veterans' benefits.