Senate VA funding bill addresses: health care shortfall.

The U.S. Senate has overwhelmingly approved a fiscal 2006 spending bill that includes emergency funding to make up for a nearly S2 billion shortfall in veterans health care. (Seethe September/October DAV Magazine.)

The Senate version of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill (1-1. R. 2528) would fund the VA at almost S7 I billion foil he fiscal year that began Oct. 1. with S2 3.3 billion of that for veterans medical. services. That is an increase of $3.9 billion over the fiscal year 2005 enacted level and $1.3 billion above the President's budget request.

The measure cleared the Senate Sept. 22 by a vote of 98-0 in a matter of hours with a minimum of debate.

Under the House version of H.R. 2528. veterans medical services would be funded at S21 billion, The House bill was passed in May before the veterans health care funding gap was disclosed.

A House-Senate conference committee will have to resolve differences between the two versions before a final bill is sent to the President. Meanwhile, the VA's budget remained at the lower, House-passed fiscal 2006 level under a temporary funding measure, known as a continuing resolution. (See page 16.)

"It was heartening to witness such overwhelming; bipartisan support in [lie Senate for closing this serious funding gap in veterans health care," said National Legislative Director Joseph A. Violante. "III meetings with congressional staff on both sides of the political aisle, it was clear that Senate appropriators wanted to fix the problem as quickly as possible."

Violante praised Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) and Ranking Member Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.) for their efforts "to do the right thing to snake up the shortfall in veterans health care."

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), who chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. working in concert with Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) recommended the S2 billion in emergency funds in Its draft bill in July.

Congress first learned of the veterans health care budget shortage in .tune, although VA officials admitted they had known about the problem since April. In response, Congress approved a $1. 5 billion supplemental appropriations to cover the VA health care for fiscal 2005. The Administration then told lawmakers that veterans health care would need nearly S2 billion more in 2006 than the President originally asked for. To help make similar problems less likely in the future, the Senate added a provision to the bill that requires the VA to submit quarterly expenditure reports to Congress.

Senators also adopted an amendment to require the VA to report any budget shortfall totaling 2% or more of its total discretionary funding budget for a fiscal year.

"Congress and the Administration both have acknowledged the need for additional funds for veterans medical care, at least for the short term," said Violante. "But what's needed is a long-term solution to chronic cinder funding that has plagued the VA for years. That solution is to guarantee an adequate, reliable budget that fully funds veterans health care. That would allow the VA to plan ahead and provide the resources needed to match the demand for health care."

Another amendment Senators adopted blocks the VA from reviewing case tiles of 72,000 veterans rated 100[degrees]10 disabled by past-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). VA officials believe some PTSD claims have been granted without proper documentation. The amendment would bar the VA from conducting its case review until it justifies the program to Congress. It also would prohibit the VA from reducing or revoking a veteran's disability compensation for PTSD except in cases of fraud. (See page l5.)

Volunteer's Volunteer Turns 104 ...

Wearing his signature volunteer smile, World War 1 veteran Robely Rex (photo at right) continues to volunteer several days a week at the VA medical center in Louisville. Ky. During festivities highlighting Robley's 104th birthday celebration (center, left photo), he receives an official DAV jacket from Department of Kentucky Commander Larry Roberts, right, and Department Adjutant Sam Booher. The former "Doughboy," who served with the U.S. Amity 28th Division, turned 104 on May 2, 2005.