(D-Maine)
Lately, the appropriations process in Washington has been caught up in partisan bickering. I am pleased, however, to report that the Fiscal Year 2009 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill passed the House this week and it includes much needed funding increases for veterans’ care.
As the Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, I have been working with my fellow committee colleagues to advocate for this funding. This bill builds upon last year’s largest ever increase in the 77-year history of the Veterans’ Administration. The bill also adds to this year’s successful passage of a new GI education bill, critical reforms to our military health system, and a pay raise for our troops.
The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill expands access to and strengthens the quality of veterans’ health care for the 5.8 million patients, including 333,000 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. It accomplishes this in a number of important ways.
The bill provides funding to increase enrollment in VA medical care for veterans making as little as $28,430 (Priority 8) by 10 percent. The Administration stopped enrolling these veterans right before the Iraq War as part of an effort to cut costs. This enrollment of Priority 8 veterans is important because an estimated one-half of all uninsured veterans are Priority 8.
Also included in this bill is funding to increase the reimbursement rate for veterans living in rural areas who need to travel long distances for care from 28.5 cents per mile to 41.5 cents per mile. This change is extremely important given the high costs of fuel and the long distances many Maine veterans must travel to get the care they need.
The funding bill also contains a number of significant funding increases that will allow us to better care for our returning soldiers and all generations of veterans. We were able to strengthen mental health care for the growing number of veterans with PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury by providing $3.8 billion. The bill will also help provide our veterans with advanced prosthetics by investing $116 million more than the President requested. This increase in funding will help those who have lost limbs rebuild their lives.
Conditions at some VA medical facilities have been found to be in disrepair and in need of better maintenance. By investing $300 million over the President’s request, this bill will help improve maintenance at VA medical facilities to prevent a Walter Reed-like tragedy. For our current service men and women, the bill boosts military construction so that our troops have better housing, health care and day care facilities and more effective training facilities.
The increase in funding contained in this bill will provide the health care and benefits our veterans deserve for their brave and admirable service to our nation. Congress was able to pass this important funding measure through bipartisan cooperation. It is my hope that the spirit with which we completed this bill will carry on through the remaining days of the 110th Congress.
