President Barack Obama's Federal Budget proposal pleases 4 of the nation's largest veterans organizations, even as these organizations agree there is a lot more room to improve.
American Veterans (AMVETS), Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) and Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) push the Obama Administration and Congress to extend the proposed Federal budget to $68 billion for Veterans Health Care and Benefits.
So far, the 2013 Independent Budget Report has $64 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)for veterans health issues, but according to the veterans organizations, that is not nearly enough to meet the needs. According to the Associated Press (via the Observer-Dispatch), the increase recommended by these groups is 10.6%.
However, 2013 Independent Budget Report is on the upcoming docket for Congress. Essentially, the Report is up for debate, discussion and a vote in front of Congress, so there is room for negotiation.
What the Independent Budget Report is, above all, are directions for the Administration and Congress to follow in order to meet the needs of America's veterans. At the core, the Independent Budget Report stipulates how the money allotted to the VA is spent, as advised by veterans' groups, the Administration and Congress.
The silver lining for the veterans organizations is the fact that the spending limit was increased for the VA. Though the main allocation of the funding in the Report was for veterans' health, there is spending growth for combating unemployment and homelessness in the veteran community .
Along with health issues, the biggest concerns for the veteran population have everything to do with our country's current economic status. Unemployment and homelessness, unfortunately, go hand-in-hand, and to fully address this issue, the veterans' organizations recognize the need to open the purse strings.
Despite this promising increase of spending for veterans' health, the major concern for these top veterans organizations is in maintaining consistent, quality health care. Recent changes in the VA health care system has left some veterans out in the cold, and the proposed increase by the veterans' groups in spending for the 2013 Independent Budget hopes to address that potential short-fall.
Contact your Congressional representative and urge them to increase the budget by $4 billion to fully address the health issues facing our veterans. Find your U.S. Senator or Representative here.
