OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009

Date: June 23, 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Veterans Health and Health Care


VETERANS HEALTH CARE BUDGET REFORM AND TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2009 -- (House of Representatives - June 23, 2009)

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Mrs. HALVORSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1016, the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009, which was introduced under the leadership of the chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Mr. Filner. I want to thank Mr. Filner and the Subcommittee on Health Care chairman, Mr. Michaud, for their great leadership on this issue.

The Veterans Affairs health care system includes 153 medical centers with a facility in each State, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. Almost 5.5 million people received care in the VA health care facilities in 2008, and VA's outpatient clinics registered over 60 million visits. This is one of the largest health care providers in the country.

However, in fiscal year 2009, for only the third time in the past 20 years, VA received its budget prior to the start of the new fiscal year. It isn't reasonable to expect that one of the largest, fastest-growing health care providers in the country can operate in the most efficient and effective manner if they don't know what their budgets will be.

The current budget process continues to hamper and threaten VA health care delivery. When VA does not receive its funding in a timely manner, it is forced to ration its care. So much-needed medical staff cannot be hired, equipment cannot be procured, waiting times increase, and the quality of care suffers.

H.R. 1016 will solve many of these problems and fund the VA 1 year in advance. It will allow the VA to spend money more efficiently while at the same time providing better and more comprehensive care for our veterans. H.R. 1016 will make sure that the VA has the resources that it needs in a timely manner so that it can provide quality care without having to question what funds will be available next month.

I am here today in an attempt to serve our veterans' best interest and to fight to make sure they receive the best care possible. To that end, I stand in favor of H.R. 1016 and strongly urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

I thank the chairman for yielding.

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