Timely and Predictable VA Health Care Funding & Women Veterans Health
On June 23rd, the House passed two key measures for our veterans – H.R. 1016 to ensure sufficient, timely and predictable veterans funding and H.R. 1211 to expand VA health care services for the 1.8 million women who have bravely served their country.
Endorsed by veterans’ organizations as “among the most important for veterans and their families,” the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act (H.R. 1016) authorizes Congress to approve investments in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical care one year in advance to provide time for the VA to plan how to deliver the best care to an increasing number of veterans with increasingly complex medical conditions.
The Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act (H.R. 1211) will expand and improve VA health care services for the 1.8 million women who have bravely served their country. It calls for:
- a study of barriers to women veterans seeking health care,
- assessment of women’s health care programs,
- medical care for newborn children of women veterans,
- enhancement of VA sexual trauma programs,
- enhancement of PTSD treatment for women,
- establishment of a pilot program for child care services, and
- the addition of recently separated women veterans to serve on advisory committees.
These bills build on other recent and upcoming action Congress is taking to put our troops and veterans first, which include:
- the Supplemental Appropriations bill, awaiting the President’s signature, which works to provide our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan with everything they need, expands the New GI Bill of college education benefits to children of fallen service members, and provides retroactive payments to over 185,000 service members who have had their enlistments involuntarily extended since September 11, 2001;
- the Defense Authorization, to be considered later this week, which gives troops a pay raise, restores military readiness, and strengthens support for military families; and
- the Military Construction/VA Appropriations, to be considered in July, to provide veterans with the quality health care that they need.
This Congress is working to keep our promises to our courageous and faithful men and women in uniform. On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind.