Veterans Need More Than a Continuing Resolution

A continuing resolution seems inevitable at this point, despite the hard work of the Appropriations Committee and the desires of many Members from both sides of the aisle to move more of the funding bills in the waning days of the session.   But there are some real concerns with the delay in passing FY07 appropriations bills, especially in regard to veterans’ health care funding.

Both the House and Senate-passed versions of the VA appropriations bill contain solid health care increases above the FY 2006 funding level.  Although not up to the level proposed by the Independent Budget, H.R. 5385 would provide VA with vital funding that is necessary to meet the health care needs of our veterans. So I’m concerned that if this session of Congress ends without an FY2007 bill and the VA is funded at the same level as FY 2006, we will see many of the same problems we faced last year, such as health care rationing and transferring dollars from much-needed equipment and maintenance accounts in order to attempt to cover health needs.

The Appropriations Committee did great work to move a VA funding bill forward and the House passed it back in May.  Unfortunately, Congress has not yet sent anything to the President.   It is my hope that we will be able to pass a FY2007 bill as soon as possible to make sure that veterans’ health care is funded at the level that veterans need in the year ahead.  Unfortunately, even the short delay between a CR and a final bill may create budgetary problems throughout the VA.