President Obama has proposed a $140.3 billion budget for the Veterans’ Administration to accommodate the over one million active-duty men and women who will be veterans in the next fire years. Says the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Eric K. Shinseki, “As our newest Veterans return home, we must give them the care, the benefits, the job opportunities and the respect they have earned, while honoring our commitments to Veterans of previous eras.”
The President’s proposed budget:
- Would fund services for newly discharged Veterans;
- Continue the drive to end homelessness among Veterans;
- Improve access to benefits and services;
- Reduce the disability claims backlog improve the Department’s collaboration with the Defense Department;
- And strengthen its information-technology program that is vital for delivering services to Veterans.
The budget request includes $64 billion in discretionary funds, mostly for medical care, and $76 billion for mandatory funds, mostly for disability compensation and pensions.
There currently are 22 million veterans who would benefit from this proposal, likely to increase by one million as more military personnel return home. This proposal must pass a Congressional vote.