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News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2009
VA Health Care Funding Reform Major Victory for Veterans
WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 - The Disabled American Veterans (DAV)
today applauds President Obama for signing the Veterans
Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, calling it
"the most significant legislative victory for veterans in a
generation."
"This is a great, historic day for all veterans and their
families," said DAV National Commander Roberto "Bobby"
Barrera, who was at the signing ceremony in the White House.
"Veterans, families, survivors and everyone else who cares
about the plight of veterans can rejoice knowing that for
the first time ever, the Department of Veterans Affairs'
health care system can be assured it will be funded on time
and adequately every year."
"We have worked for this for more than two decades as
veterans suffered. Approval of advance appropriations is the
most significant legislative victory for veterans in a
generation," he said. "This legislation will help ensure
timely access to medical care for the men and women who have
served, are serving and will serve in defense of our
nation."
"This long overdue legislation will make a difference for
every disabled veteran and every future disabled veteran,"
said Commander Barrera. "This victory flows from the
effective collaboration by veterans organizations in the
Partnership for Veterans Health Care Budget Reform, The
Military Coalition and a dedicated group of former VA
officials who joined our cause. Most important, this is
happening because veterans across the country, including so
many DAV members and supporters, stepped up and called on
Congress to put an end to chronic funding lapses occurring
for decades. Together, we stood up for veterans, and
veterans and their families are going to benefit."
"This historic legislation will ensure an uninterrupted,
predicable flow of funds for veterans health care programs
even if Congress is unable to complete work on the rest of
the federal budget by the start of a fiscal year," said DAV
National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson. "With funding assured,
VA hospital and clinic directors will no longer have to
delay the hiring of new doctors or nurses, or the purchase
of new medical equipment, due to Congress' failure to
approve a budget on time; something that has occurred in 20
of the past 23 years, including this year. With advance
appropriations in place, VA officials will be able to plan
ahead how best to provide veterans with the medical care
they have earned: when and where they need it."
The Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act
authorizes Congress to approve veterans medical care funding
one year in advance to better meet the anticipated demand
for veterans health care services. The advanced funding will
give the Department of Veterans Affairs up to a full year to
plan for the most effective and efficient way of delivering
medical care. Additionally, this now requires the Government
Accountability Office to audit the budget development
process to ensure that sufficient funds are included.
The 1.2 million-member Disabled American Veterans, a
non-profit organization founded in 1920 and chartered by the
U.S. Congress in 1932, represents this nation's disabled
veterans. It is dedicated to a single purpose: building
better lives for our nation's disabled veterans and their
families. More information is available at
www.dav.org.
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