Some of you guys may have wondered just why GW did not mention the Veterans in the State of the Union Address.

Its simple! Its because he has devoted a page or two to us in His 2008 Budget!

Not to worry though. For those of you Vets. taking down one or two million a year, you will retain your Tax Cuts.

jinks

Veterans Welcome Funding Increase



WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Organizations representing millions of America's veterans have hailed passage of legislation in the House of Representatives that provides much-needed health care funding for their sick and disabled comrades, including those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The stop-gap budget bill, or continuing resolution, funding much of the federal government for the current fiscal year includes a $3.6 billion increase for the Department of Veterans Affairs while spending for many other agencies was held at the 2006 level.


The four veterans' service organizations who co-author The Independent Budget said the increase in VA health care funding shows that the House has meaningfully expressed its belief that veterans should be a priority. They urged swift passage of the measure in the Senate as well. The $25.4 billion for medical services contained in the continuing resolution is slightly below
the nearly $26 billion recommended by AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the groups praised House leaders for coming together in support of health care for our nation's defenders.


The groups noted that chronic under-funding and delays in completing the VA's regular appropriation threaten to erode the availability of health care to our nation's veterans. They continue to urge Congress to find a long-term solution to a funding crisis that continues to plague the VA, a solution that delivers funds on time to allow for long-term planning.


As for 2008, The Independent Budget recommends nearly $44.3 billion in discretionary spending for the VA, with $36.8 billion of that for veterans health care and medical administration.


The Independent Budget provides the nation's decision-makers a veterans' perspective on federal spending and national policy priorities for veterans programs. These recommendations are well-considered policy and funding proposals based on the actual needs of the men and women these programs were created to serve. As a comprehensive, authoritative policy
document, The Independent Budget focuses on funding recommendations for veterans' health care, benefits delivery, medical facilities construction, veterans' cemeteries and other so-called discretionary programs that will be needed in the coming fiscal year. Congress is required by law to provide sufficient funds for compensation and pension payments and other mandatory
spending, so The Independent Budget does not make specific recommendations for those programs.


AMVETS -- a leader since 1944 in preserving the freedoms secured by America's Armed Forces -- provides not only support for veterans and the active military in procuring receipt of their earned entitlements, but also community services that enhance the quality of life for this nation's citizens. (http://www.amvets.org)


The 1.3 million-member Disabled American Veterans, a nonprofit
organization founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932, is dedicated to a single purpose: building better lives for our nation's disabled veterans and their families. (http://www.dav.org)


The Paralyzed Veterans of America, a veterans service organization chartered by Congress, has for more than 60 years served the needs of its members, all of whom have catastrophic paralysis caused by spinal cord injury or disease. (http://www.pva.org)


The VFW is a 1.8 million-member veterans' service organization, now in its 108th year, with a nationwide network of 8,500 Posts and service officers working to build better communities and assist all veterans and their dependents with problems involving VA entitlements and pensions.
(http://www.vfw.org)


SOURCE Disabled American Veterans

Fta

The 3.6 Billion is to make up for the amount that the last congress Short Changed us with the return of the Iraqi and Afgan. vets.

The 2008 new Budget paragraph is only the Recomendations of the 4 VSOs. I can assure you that it dosen't match GWs budget thats coming out. Both Congress and the Senate are going to have to fight him to get that recommended amount.

Note one other thing:
I seem to recall there being 5 VSOs fighting together last year. Now theres only 4. What happened to the American Legion? Could it be that because of Paul Morins stand on insisting being a "Vietnam Vet" when he really never left New Jersey that the others dumped them? Or maybe his pro Bush stance? I wonder..

jinks

to have a real appreciation for what it's like. His record is one of letting the budget cutters have a free hand. Remember the General who wanted to kill Social Security Disability pay for 100% disabled veterans? It died a quick death but just the fact that it was seriously floated around by the Administration's commission convinced me that the word from above is cut back on veterans benefits.

But I wouldn't expect things to get any better if HildaBeast gets elected.