Congress returned to DC earlier this month with a hectic schedule and many priorities. At the top of the list is passing a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the federal government open as current funding is set to expire September 30. October 1 is the start of the 2025 fiscal year. 

Speaking of funding, there is a critical issue facing the Department of Veterans Affairs. In July, VA reported that they are facing a budget shortfall in both its VBA and VHA accounts. According to reports, For FY24 VBA has a $3 billion in disability compensation, pension, and education benefits shortfall and an additional $12 billion is needed for FY25 for medical care.

Congress - particularly the House and Senate VA Committees - have questioned how this happened and held hearings to hear directly from VA leadership on an explanation.

Over in the House, HVAC Chair Mike Bost deemed that “lack of accountability has caused the Department to completely lose control of its budgets and its information technology (IT) projects, which have ballooned in cost. This resulted in the $3 billion hole in disability compensation and education funding, and the $12 billion hole in VA health care next year. The VA “has no excuse” for failing to budget appropriately for the PACT Act.

Ranking Member Mark Takano focused on the importance of fully resourcing the VA’s in-house provision of care. He noted that the VA routinely outperforms the private sector in meeting Veterans’ needs, and it is cheaper than community care. He noted that unchecked growth of for-profit health care in the community will weaken the VA and eliminate Veterans’ choices.

The VSO community has come out strongly that VA must make this right which means Congress will have to pass a separate supplemental for both VBA and VHA to fill the gaps.

Senate VA Committee Members also questioned VA at their hearing (9/18). Asking why the supplemental was requested four months after the Administration submitted its proposed budget, and immediately after appropriators in the House and the Senate reported their bills, when it was too late for this to be included. Many voiced concerns about the funding shortfall caused by the VA’s miscalculations and called for greater transparency between VA and Congress. Others applauded the success of the PACT Act and acknowledged that it is bringing more Veterans into VA facilities., and research shows how much better the VA cares for Veterans than the community.

NOVA believes that it is important to prioritize Veterans care, and that funding must be evaluated and monitored for all accounts to remain solvent.

With limited time left on the legislative calendar, it does not look likely the omnibus or any substantial Veterans’ legislation will be passed. The House VA Committee continues to introduce bills, and NOVA alongside its partners at the American Psychological Association, Association of VA Psychologist Leaders, Association of VA Social Workers, National Association of Veterans Affairs Physicians and Dentist, and the Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute submitted testimony to the Subcommittee on Health (9/11/24) which detailed our concerns with some of the bills. 

View our testimony

As we move into the final months of the 118th Congress, we must continue to speak up and advocate by reminding policy makers that VA remains the only Federal health system that provides the highest level of coordinated care. VHA also trains many doctors as well as providing critical research that helps not just Veterans but the U.S. population writ large.
 
I have provided the links to both the House and Senate VA Committees so that you can review hearings held in September –
House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

Keep advocating for yourselves, Veterans, and the VA System!