UPDATE: VA Budget Signed by President

UPDATE: 12/18/2009

It was signed 77 days after the deadline, but the VA finally has a budget. The President quietly signed the bill increasing VA funding by 14%, allowing VA Health Care to operate under a budget for 2010 and 2011.

This is the first time that the VA will have a budget two years in advance. Due to the hard work of the entire VSO community, and veterans and supporters like you, we passed a historic change to the way we fund the VA. By funding the VA one year in advance, future VA health care budgets will not have to wait for Congress to stop political bickering to take care of our nation's veterans.

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UPDATE: 12/13/2009

After 74 days of rationing care, Congress has finally approved the VA Health Care budget. Wednesday, the House approved the VA budget (220-207). After three days of debate, the Senate did the same (57-35) on Sunday.

Next step: the President signs it into law.

Once signed, the VA will have their 2010 and 2011 budget. Thanks largely to the work of veterans from around the country, this budget will be the first to fund VA health care one year in advance. Advance funding [1] will ensure that the VA will be able to operate without rationing care the next time that Congress passes the budget late. This has been a long fought victory for IAVA and our partners in the veterans community. Advanced Appropriations of the VA will ensure that the VA is able to provide outstanding health care to our nations’ veterans.

Passing Advance Appropriations was the goal of IAVA’s 2009 Storm the Hill . We fought for it and won. We are gearing up for Storm the Hill 2010, want to be a part of our next historic effort? Sign up for more information. [2]

UPDATE: 12/10/2009

The House passed the VA Budget Conference Committee compromise today (221-202). The Senate will suspend their debate on health care reform to vote on the budget, most likely tomorrow or over the weekend. If the Senate passes it, the next step is sending the budget to the President’s desk.

UPDATE: 12/9/2009

Today the VA budget is 70 days late, but last night there was a little progress towards passing it. A House-Senate conference committee came to a compromise on the veterans and military construction budgets for 2010.

Next step: the House and Senate must pass the compromise and then send it to the President. Until then the VA will continue to work without a final budget and be forced to ration health care.

UPDATE: 11/17/09

One step closer!

This afternoon the Senate passed the Veterans Affairs budget by a vote of 100-0.   It provides $133.9 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs and Military housing. 

In addition to funding VA health care for 2010, this budget also includes appropriations for FY 2011. This year, as it has been 20 of the last 23 years, the budget for VA health care will be passed late.  By including funding for the next 2 years, the VA will be able to provide health care for our nations heroes without worrying about late budgets.  This advance appropriation was a major victory for IAVA and our partners in the VSO community.  This budget will now go to Conference where the House and Senate versions of the budget will be reconciled in to one bill for the President to sign. 

With the VA budget already 48 days late and counting, IAVA urges the Congress to move quickly to bring this to the President’s desk. 

UPDATE: 11/01/09

On Thursday, October 22nd, the President signed into law one of IAVA’s top legislative priorities, Advance Appropriations. [1] This historic law will keep partisan politics from delaying future VA budgets, but it does not impact the 2010 budget. The VA’s budget for next year is still languishing in Congress.

Last week, Congress passed another extension to the VA budget deadline, giving them until December 18th to pass the budget. This is the second VA Budget extension they gave themselves since the original deadline of September 30th.

Every day Congress dodges voting on the budget is a day that the VA may ration veterans’ health care. We need to turn up the temperature - please call your Senators [3] and tell them to stop playing politics with the VA Budget and vote on the VA budget ASAP.  If you have called - please tell your friends and family to call immediately.

UPDATE: 10/01/09

This could be one of the most important phone calls you make this year.

Last week, the Senate failed to pass the VA budget, and six million veterans who rely on the VA for healthcare are paying the price. All passing the budget takes is one vote - the Senate just hasn't gotten around to it.

Now, VA hospitals and clinics nationwide can't plan for critical staffing and equipment needs, leading to longer waits for appointments, and rationed care. This is completely unacceptable.

Take action by calling your Senators now. Tell them to pass the VA budget, so that veterans get the care they deserve. Click here to place your call - our online tool makes it easy. [4]

The VA budget has been late an astounding 20 times in the last 23 years. And every year we've had to fight to get it passed. But your phone call could change that forever. This year's budget includes a provision that will fund the VA a full year in advance. Advance funding the VA is IAVA's top legislative goal for 2009, and it means veterans' healthcare will never be rationed again.

So please place a call to your Senators now and make sure that the VA is fully funded this year, and for years to come. [4]

The only budget that Congress passed on time last week is the one that pays their salaries. Veterans shouldn't have to wait while Congress gets paid. Help us change that today [4].

Thank you for making your voice heard.