WASHINGTON – On March 15, the Department of Veterans Affairs marks its 13th birthday as a cabinet department.
"This is a time to take pride in our accomplishments and reflect about the challenges ahead," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi. "We should remember our achievements in helping the nation's veterans, their families and their survivors. But we must also recommit ourselves to the challenges ahead and resolve to meet them in ways that improve the lives of veterans."
On March 15, 1989, the Veterans Administration officially ended, replaced by the Department of Veterans Affairs. VA switched from being the federal government's largest independent agency to the second-largest cabinet department.
This year, VA expects to provide medical care to 4.9 million patients in 43 million outpatient visits and 600,000 hospitalizations. More than 2.3 million veterans will receive disability compensation or pensions from VA. Nearly 60,000 will be buried in VA-run national cemeteries, while about 350,000 will receive headstones or markers from VA.
"Some of our roots go back to July 21, 1930, when VA's predecessor agency was formed from three other federal agencies," Principi said. "Some roots go back to colonial days, when people took it upon themselves to care for militia members disabled in the struggles of that period."
As VA enters its 14th year as a cabinet department, Principi reiterated his three highest priorities – improving the timeliness and accuracy of claims processing, ensuring that veterans receive the high-quality health care and meeting the burial needs of veterans in cemeteries that are truly national shrines.
"In February, President Bush proposed $58 billion for VA's budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1st," Principi said. "In fact, that budget -- with the largest increase in health care spending in VA's history -- will enable us to maintain our core missions, but we face a continuing obligation to realign our programs and facilities to meet the future needs of veterans."
Principi plans to mark the birthday with a special broadcast "State of VA" address to the department's employees.
