WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI), Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, thanked his colleagues for supporting the fiscal year 2010 Budget Resolution, which contains language based on his bill to provide secure funding for veterans’ health care one year ahead of the regular budget process.  While the Budget Resolution is non-binding, it plays a major role in guiding appropriations, and the inclusion of advance funding for veterans marks yet another step forward for the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009.

“The inclusion of the advance funding provision in the Budget Resolution shows growing momentum for securing on-time funding for veterans’ health care.  I thank Chairman Conrad and my other colleagues for including this important provision, and I look forward to the enactment of my broadly supported bipartisan bill to improve veterans’ health care,” said Akaka. 

S. 423, the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009, would secure timely and predictable funding for the veterans health care system.  Currently, veterans’ health care is funded by a year-by-year appropriation, which has been late 19 of the past 22 years.  VA operates the largest health care system in the nation, providing care for millions of disabled and indigent veterans.

S. 423 is cosponsored by a bipartisan group of over 40 senators, and is supported by an array of national veterans service organizations, President Barack Obama, and Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki. 

-END-

April 29, 2009