In 2007, I voted for the largest single increase in the 77-year history of the Veterans Administration.  The VA budget increase, which was included in the fiscal year 2008 budget resolution, will provide $3.4 billion more than had been requested by President Bush and increase total spending on the veterans by $6.7 billion from the previous year. 

The FY 2008 VA budget will help the VA health system recover from years of neglect.  It will permit the VA to meet rising health care costs, and at the same time serve an estimated 219,000 new veterans that entered the VA system in 2007.  The budget will help to reduce the VA’s 400,000 claim backlog by adding more than 1,100 new processors, and will provide $500 million more than the President requested for much-needed maintenance of VA health care facilities.  It provides $600 million more for mental health, PTSD and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) than the President requested, and includes funding for five new poly-trauma centers and three Centers of Excellence for Mental Health and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).  In supporting the 2008 Budget Resolution, I also voted against the President's plan to impose new enrollment fees for veterans’ health care, and to double drug co-payments for one million veterans. 

The Fiscal 2008 budget passed by the House was endorsed by all of America's major veterans service organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, Disabled Veterans of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Military Officers Association of America, Association of the United States Army, National Association for Uniformed Services, and AMVETS.