Webb: Historic 'Advanced Appropriations' Bill Secures Timely, Reliable Funding for Veterans' Health Care

Measure Allows Congress Two-Year Budget Authority to Prevent Funding Lapses

 Washington, DC– With the support of Senator Jim Webb (D-VA), the Senate approved a bill on Tuesday evening to secure timely funding for veterans’ health care delivered through the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).  Beginning in fiscal year 2011, the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 allows Congress two-year budget authority to prevent lapses in funding for services.

In 19 of the past 22 fiscal years, final VA appropriations have been enacted several months late and have frequently required supplemental appropriations to sustain VA health care.

“In order to provide quality care for the 6 million veterans using VA health care, it is vital that funding be sufficient, timely and predictable,” said Senator Webb, who serves on the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs and is a decorated combat veteran of the Vietnam War. “Congress made the responsible choice to address years of chronic funding failures for VA care.”

The bill authorizes an “advance appropriation,” providing VA with up to one year to plan how to deliver the most efficient and effective care to an increasing number of veterans with increasingly complex medical conditions.  Unlike proposals to convert VA health care to a mandatory funding program, an advance appropriation does not create PAYGO concerns since VA health care funding would remain discretionary.  Congress employs a PAYGO rule which demands that new proposals must either be budget neutral or offset with savings derived from existing funds.

Additionally, VA will be required to detail estimates in the budget documents it submits annually to Congress.  Each July, the VA will be required to report to Congress if it has the resources it needs for the upcoming fiscal year in order for Congress to address any funding imbalances.  This will help to safeguard against the VA facing budget shortfalls such as it faced just a few years ago.