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House appropriations subcommittee approves VA FY08 budget increase of
$6.7 billion |
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| House Committee on
Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs,
and Related Agencies For Immediate Release Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Contact: Josh Taylor 202-225-6105 Chairman Edwards Hails Record
Increases in Fiscal Year 2008 House Military Construction and Veterans
Affairs Appropriations Bill Chairman's Mark Includes $6.7 Billion
Increase for VA, $8.2 Billion Increase for Military Construction Over
2007 (Washington, DC)— U.S. Representative Chet Edwards, Chairman of the
House Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations
Subcommittee, today marked up the subcommittee's fiscal year 2008 bill.
The Chairman's Mark includes a $6.7 billion increase in the Department
of Veterans Affairs budget and $8.2 billion increase in military
construction over 2007 levels. "This bill sends a clear message to
America's servicemen and women, their families and our veterans that a
grateful nation deeply respects their service and sacrifice. It says to
all who have served that just as you have kept your promises to country,
we intend to keep our promises to you. "We keep our promises to veterans
by providing the largest increase in funding for veterans health care in
the VA's 77-year history. In addition, we seek to reduce the 177 day
average wait for veterans to receive their earned benefits by more than
doubling the number of benefits personnel the VA hires this year. "We
keep our promises to our servicemen and women and their families by
providing an $8.2 billion increase over fiscal 2007 for military
construction, family housing and BRAC. We fully fund the President's
request for BRAC and add $207 million to his military construction
request, which will allow us to improve training and quality of life
facilities for active duty troops and Members of the Guard and Reserves.
"This bill respects the sacrifice of our servicemen and women, veterans
and their families by providing $109.2 billion total, $4 billion more
than requested by the Administration and $18 billion above fiscal year
2007 levels." Veterans Affairs: - This bill shows that care for our
veterans is a real cost of war and 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. - For the 1st time, the total budget for
VA medical accounts exceeds the Independent Budget prepared by veterans'
service organizations by $294 million. - This bill significantly reduces
the 400,000 claims backlog by adding over 1000 new claims processors. -
Increases funding to address the VA's repair and maintenance needs to
prevent a Walter Reed type scandal from occurring in the VA system.
(over) Military Construction: - The bill provides an unprecedented $21.4
billion for military construction, family housing, and BRAC. This is an
increase of $207 million over the President's request and $8.2 billion
over FY07, which means better barracks, housing and training facilities
when troops return from combat. - Fully funds the 2005 base realignment
and closure process (BRAC) at $8.2 billion. Supports the relocation of
70,000 troops from bases in Korea and Europe. - Provides funds to grow
our military forces and begins the process of adding 65,000 Army, 27,000
Marine, and 9,000 National Guard and Reserve troops. - 3 0 -
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