Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) expressed outrage upon hearing that, contrary to administration officials’ previous claims, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is short $1 billion for this year’s veterans’ needs. A VA undersecretary admitted the shortfall under heavy questioning at a congressional hearing yesterday. The admission directly contradicted previous statements from the VA that it did not need additional funds to meet current needs this year.

“It is wrong and shameful that the Department of Veterans Affairs misrepresented its finances and its ability to meet the needs of our veterans.

“Earlier this month I met with veterans in Skagit, Snohomish and Whatcom counties. At those meetings, veterans told me about their struggles to access health care through the VA. 

“This administration needs to put aside rhetoric and face reality.

“Our veterans deserve the health care and benefits that they earned. They don’t deserve an administration that underfunds their health care, dips into next year’s funding, and then tells Congress they have plenty of money to go around.

“I will keep hammering on this administration and the VA to stand up for veterans in the same way that veterans stood up for this country. 

“Congress must hold the administration’s feet to the fire until they give our veterans the respect and funding they have earned. Anything less is intolerable and shameful.”

As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Larsen worked through this year’s Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act to increase VA funding for next fiscal year. Larsen supported an effort to provide an additional $2.6 billion for veterans' health care over the amount in the bill. The effort, which was defeated, would have been paid for by slightly decreasing the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy.