... the opportunity to testify today about the funding process for the Department of Veterans Affairs ... reform the basic discretionary appropriations system of funding VA health care. The VA health ... $6 billion in additional health care funding. Nevertheless, I hope to make clear to the Committee why funding problems persist and how Congress can solve ... each other. Some members have opposed mandatoryfunding because it would cost too much; ... your intention to report legislation creating a mandatory and guaranteed funding system for VA health care in 2009... http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfJUL07/JULFILES/072507 SVAC testimony.doc
2. VA Watchdog dot Org - VA NEWS FLASH - 07-23-2007 #1 -- BUSTING THE MYTHS ABOUT MANDATORY VA FUNDING -- Upcoming Congressional testimony effectively ends arguments that VA healthcare FUNDING should remain part of the discretionary budget process.nf072307-1.htm
... system if VA shifted from discretionary to mandatoryfunding. REALITY: While funding would be removed from the direct politics ... VA programs and services. MYTH: Mandatoryfunding creates an individual entitlement to health care. REALITY: The Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act would shift the current funding for VA health care from discretionary appropriations to mandatory budget status. The Act makes no... http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfJUL07/nf072307-1.htm
... $4.577 billion in additional funding in FY09 over FY08 to support its ... we disagree in particular with the discretionary funding request for staffing at the Board of ... believe that the benefit level of several mandatory programs must be increased to quell erosion ... and other "uncontrollables" dictate a funding increase of at least $1. ... requested an additional $534 million in funding in FY09 to meet these latter costs .... The Undersigned Members recommend a total funding level of $742 million to furnish ... years to five years. Additional outreach funding is required to move VA from a ... Center, and the NDAA. No funding has been identified in the President'... http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/scva08/scva022208-2.htm
4. VA Watchdog dot Org - VA NEWS FLASH - 01-01-2007 #1nf010107-1.htm
... United States CRITICAL ISSUE 1: Adequate Funding Needed for VA Health Care VA must ... increase prescription drug copayments to achieve that funding level. Once again the president recommended ..., and we intend to recommend additional funding to reopen the system in FY 2008 .... When VA does not receive its funding in a timely manner, it is ... if it does not have the necessary funding. The Ibvsos firmly believe that VA ... an overall cap on nondefense domestic discretionary funding levels for the next three years and ..., The Independent Budget has proposed that funding for veterans health care be removed from the discretionary budget process and made mandatory instead. This would not create a... http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfJAN07/nf010107-1.htm
... system. . Within a month of the passage of the FY 2005 appropriations bill, stories began to appear around the country about the shortfalls in VA health care funding and its adverse impact on VA's ability to care for our nation's sick and disabled veterans. In a December 20, 2004 story in ... medical care, according to the VA director. Actually, according to the article, the FY 2005 budget is $700,000 less than the FY 2002 funding levels that's correct, $700,000 less than the FY 2002 spending level. In Pennsylvania, the Van Zandt VA Medical Center faces a... http://www.vawatchdog.org/old newsflashes MAR 06/newsflash03-01-2006-2.htm
6. VA Watchdog dot Org - VA NEWS FLASH - 07-25-2007 #8 -- SEN. LARRY CRAIG ON MANDATORY VA FUNDING: WE DON'T WANT TO SPEND THE MONEY -- Craig disses veterans by comparing VA spending to Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security.nf072507-8.htm
... again. Craig continues to argue AGAINST mandatoryfunding for VA healthcare. His arguments are ... 25, 2007 CRAIG ISSUES WARNING ABOUT MANDATORYFUNDING FOR VA Media contact: Jeff Schrade ...S. Senator Larry Craig warned that mandatoryfunding will not solve the long-term funding needs of that agency. "We ... need across the board reform." Mandatoryfunding is a long-sought goal... http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfJUL07/nf072507-8.htm
...A YEAR IN ADVANCE" VA HEALTHCARE FUNDING -- "For almost two decades, veterans' healthcare funding has either been insufficient or late, .... Fifty percent of VA's funding is for veteran benefits, which are mandatory entitlement spending. The other half is ... to convert VA health care to a mandatoryfunding program, an advance appropriation does not create PAYGO concerns since VA health care funding would remain discretionary. In addition, ...A YEAR IN ADVANCE"VA HEALTHCARE FUNDING --"For almost two decades... http://www.vawatchdog.org/08/nf08/nfsep08/nf091908-3.htm
8. VA Watchdog dot Org - VA NEWS FLASH - 06-23-2007 #7-1 -- ENDING THE VA'S FUNDING CRISIS - by Larry Scott -- While veterans' lives hang in the balance, Congress disregards the root cause of the VA's FUNDING difficulties. The old budget process must be replaced by a real-time, mandatoryFUNDING mechanism based on actual need.nf062307-7-1.htm
... replaced by a real-time, mandatoryfunding mechanism based on actual need. The ... replaced by a real-time, mandatoryfunding mechanism based on actual need. Story ... replaced by a real-time, mandatoryfunding mechanism based on actual need. by ... and develop a budget process that guarantees mandatoryfunding that will meet the needs of all... http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfJUN07/nf062307-7-1.htm
9. VA Watchdog dot Org - VA NEWS FLASH - 11-03-06 #3nf110306-3.htm
... GO AFTER REP. STEVE BUYER ON MANDATORYFUNDING STATEMENT -- House Vets' Chair has said that mandatoryfunding is an "inferior approach to funding." Nine Vsos strike back with ... ruin VA healthcare by passing Full and MandatoryFunding of VA Healthcare. While Buyer tried ...' service organizations are in favor of mandatoryfunding. Now, the Vsos are... http://www.vawatchdog.org/nfNOV06/nf110306-3.htm
10. VA Watchdog dot Org - VA NEWS FLASH - 06-23-2007 #7-2 -- ENDING THE VA'S FUNDING CRISIS - by Larry Scott -- While veterans' lives hang in the balance, Congress disregards the root cause of the VA's FUNDING difficulties. The old budget process must be replaced by a real-time, mandatoryFUNDING mechanism based on actual need.nf062307-7-2.htm
... replaced by a real-time, mandatoryfunding mechanism based on actual need. Story ... Time for a change The concept of mandatoryfunding for VA healthcare has been tossed around ... Congress has voted on and voted down mandatoryfunding measures with great regularity. This argument ... Another argument was that the formulae for mandatoryfunding would lock the VA into a fixed... http://www.vawatchdog.org/07/nf07/nfJUN07/nf062307-7-2.htm
