This Is HUGE! 3 Veterans Service Organizations push to protect and preserve VA Budget and Benefits

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Leading veterans’ groups release Independent Budget Recommendations for the Department of Veterans Affairs
The veterans service organizations urge Congress to wholeheartedly support America’s veterans
February 14, 2025
WASHINGTON – The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), DAV (Disabled American Veterans) and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), yesterday released The Independent Budget Recommendations for the Department of Veterans Affairs for Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027. The report is an unbiased, needs-based blueprint for Congress, ensuring a fully funded VA can meet its core mission of caring for America’s veterans and their families, caregivers and survivors.

While the president is required by law to release a proposed budget by the first Monday in February, administrations have consistently failed to meet that deadline stretching back two decades. However, the Independent Budget (IB) is a benchmark for lawmakers when considering its funding decisions for the VA.



“The VA is the best health care provider for veterans, particularly those with spinal cord injuries and diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)” said Carl Blake, chief executive officer of PVA. “When the veteran population utilizing the VA’s direct and community care services is growing, but the system’s staffing, infrastructure and funding are not, there’s a serious problem. Unfortunately, veterans with the greatest support needs bear the cost of inadequate resourcing and inaction. Year after year, the Independent Budget Veterans Service Organizations (IBVSOs) carefully prepare budgetary recommendations to ensure VA is fully funded and capable of carrying out its full mission. Congress must do its part and properly fund the VA.”



The VA provided more care to veterans than ever in fiscal year 2024. That’s why, for the fiscal year 2026, the IBVSOs are recommending $166.4 billion for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), which would enable the department to continue to provide timely and high-quality care. The IB report details specific funding levels and targeted increases for VHA programs, including a $2 billion increase to strengthen long-term services and support to meet the specialized needs of disabled veterans and their caregivers; a $1.4 billion boost to fill healthcare employee vacancies; a $1 billion increase to cover the projected growth of new veterans seeking VA care; a $462 million increase for 3000 new clinical social workers; and a $179 million addition for mental health and suicide prevention programs. The IBVSOs also call for a $300 million increase for emergency and urgent care, pivotal in providing on-demand acute care, and $531 million to provide better dental care to a growing population of veterans seeking dental services.



“Our nation has a solemn duty to honor its commitment to America's veterans by ensuring timely access to the high-quality healthcare and benefits they have earned and deserve,” said Randy Reese, executive director of DAV Washington Headquarters. “This year’s Independent Budget offers thoughtful recommendations to guarantee that the VA receives the full funding it requires to prevent future budget shortfalls, which would jeopardize veterans' care and place a financial strain on the benefits many depend on to make ends meet.”



For the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), the IBVSOs recommend a total of $6.5 billion for fiscal year 2026—a roughly $1 billion increase over the projected FY 2025 levels—and $296 million for the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA). The VBA increases include a $200 million rise to bring down the backlog of over 235,000 pending claim decisions; $10 million more to support Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) due to an unprecedented number of applications; and a $32 million increase to implement VA’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP) 6.0, to increase in-person TAP classes and ensure adequate staffing.

More here
https://www.vfw.org/media-and-events/...