VA News Briefings

Highlights from VA News Briefing for March 16, 2009

New VA Budget To Extend Health Care Eligibility To Thousands Of Veterans. In his Providence Journal (3/16) column entitled "Veterans' Journal," George Reilly writes, "The proposed budget President Obama recently submitted to Congress calls for the Department of Veterans Affairs to extend health care eligibility to an additional half-million veterans over the next five years. VA's budget would rise by $15 billion, to $113 billion, for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. And VA would increase by $25 billion over baseline during the next five years." The expansion would add "more than 500,000 veterans who have been excluded from VA medical care benefits since 2003. Quality and timely care for lower-income and service-disabled veterans who rely on VA care would also be assured, allowing disabled military retirees for the first time to keep their full VA disability compensation along with their retirement pay."
Impact: VA Budget

Shinseki Releases Open Letter To Veterans. The Navy Times (3/13, Maze) reports Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki "released an unusual open letter to all veterans Friday, saying he is committed to transforming his department into a 21st-century organization in which 'veterans are central to everything VA does.' Issued after two weeks of controversy swirling around VA for problems both inherited and caused by some preliminary decisions within the Obama administration, the letter is an unusual step. VA officials said that other than annual Veterans Day messages, they are unaware of any other such letter to veterans sent by a VA secretary for at least a decade, and probably longer. VA spokesman Phil Budahn said it would be wrong to read too much into the message. 'It is what it is,' Budahn said. 'He wanted to send a message to veterans that introduces him and lays out his priorities.' Veterans organizations - who so far appear to like Shinseki - seemed pleased. Joe Davis, public affairs director for Veterans of Foreign Wars, the nation's largest group for combat veterans, said VA 'is in the service industry, and its leader is communicating in simple language that his customers are his No. 1 priority and the reason his department exists.' 'Secretary Shinseki is one of us, and we look forward to working with him to ensure that VA fulfills a grateful nation's promise to her veterans,' Davis said." The Times notes that Shinseki "is a disabled veteran - twice wounded in Vietnam - who served a full career in the military, rising to Army chief of staff. In his letter, he says he views his new job as an 'opportunity to give back to those who served with and for me during my 38 years in uniform and those on whose shoulders we all stood as we grew up in the profession of arms.'"
Impact: From the Secretary

VA Mortgages Said To Be Gaining In Popularity. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (3/14, Crane) reports, "Shoved aside by the hot mortgage products of recent years, Veterans Affairs mortgage loans are making a comeback and are a viable financing alternative for veterans looking to secure an attractive fixed-rate loan with little or no money down. ... If you're an honorably discharged veteran, are currently serving on active duty or have completed a total of six years of service in the National Guard or selected reserves, you are eligible for a loan. Certain surviving spouses of veterans are also eligible. Loan limits are $417,000 in most areas of the country but are higher in certain regions."
Impact: VA Home Loans

Filner Releases Statement On VA Budget Proposal. The Imperial Valley News (3/14, Kurt) publishes a statement released by House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner "upon submitting the Committee's Views and Estimates letter to the House Budget Committee." Filner writes, "'The Administration's preliminary budget request for the Department of Veterans Affairs calls for a total budget of $113 billion, a $15 billion increase above 2009 levels. The request includes $52.5 billion in discretionary funding – an increase of $4.9 billion from 2009, or 10.3 percent. The bulk of discretionary spending goes to VA medical care. This budget proposal marks the first time any President has submitted a budget that exceeds the recommendations of the Independent Budget. The budget forecast calls for a $25 billion increase over the next five years. Although we understand these numbers are not binding on future years, and the levels are lower than the amounts that will be needed, we applaud this move toward presenting a more honest and accurate look at our financial picture."
Impact: VA Budget