A View From the Hill: U.S. Congressman Max Burns
http://www.military.com/NewContent?file=Burns_062503
While the principal fighting in Iraq has concluded, our nation's men and women continue to fight for our freedom and security around the world. They should know that Americans are united in their support for them and their safe return.
Republicans in Congress, along with President Bush, support not only the troops in the field, but also the scores of veterans who have already given so much to this country. Unfortunately, there have been false reports circulating that Congress has cut veterans' benefits. Now, whether you have heard this disinformation or not, here are the facts of the Congressional Budget for fiscal year (FY) 2004 relating to veterans' spending.
The budget proposes $63.8 billion for veterans' programs -- an increase of $6.2 billion (10.7 percent) over FY 2003.
This funding is divided between two categories of spending for veterans -- mandatory and discretionary. Funding in both spending categories is increased by this budget. I have listed the key facts of the VA budget below.
The budget provides $33.8 billion -- an 8.9 percent increase -- in mandatory spending in FY '04. This will allow veterans' mandatory programs to grow to support increased payments for compensation, pensions and educational benefits. Of the funding increase, nearly 80 percent is for increases to veterans' disability compensation.
The budget provides $30 billion -- a 12.9 percent increase -- in discretionary spending for veterans in FY '04. Nearly 90 percent of this funding is for veterans' medical care. It is important to note that every penny of that increase is justified by the compelling medical needs of our veterans.
To put this in historical perspective, VA medical care spending has grown 40% since 1998, for an average growth of 6.9 percent each year.
Other veterans' discretionary initiatives include $225 million for construction of medical facilities to increase services, and a 4.8 percent increase to the Burial Benefits program -- including funding to open new national cemeteries.
These are the indisputable facts of the federal budget for veterans. House Republicans, along with President Bush, are committed to ensuring that those who have served their country with pride, valor, and dignity receive the best of America's appreciation. Any suggestion otherwise is simply untrue -- and is not supported by the facts.
It is my hope that by sharing this information with your readers, any misrepresentations or distortions of the FY 2004 veterans' budget might be disproved.
Veterans and military personnel interested in viewing the budget can visit the following website link:
http://www.budget.house.gov/congbudget.htm
The Facts are coming around....
Hog
