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February 15, 2001
ROCKEFELLER URGES PRESIDENT TO INCREASE VETERANS' FUNDING
WASHINGTON, DC -- Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) today called on President Bush to increase funding for veterans' health care and benefits in the Fiscal Year 2002 budget plan the President will soon be submitting to Congress. Senator Rockefeller is the Ranking Democrat on the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
At a minimum, Rockefeller urged the President to match last year's increase for VA health care programs, which was $1.4 billion. He pointed to two new benefits enacted in 1999 that will require increased funding -- noninstitutional long-term care and emergency care coverage. More money is also needed to reduce the current backlog of compensation claims and to fund enhancements to the Montgomery GI Bill that were passed last fall.
In addition, the Senator requested supplemental funds for this year to immediately address the growing benefits backlog. The funds would enable the Veterans Benefits Administration to hire and train new staff before a wave of anticipated retirements of experienced workers takes place.
The full text of Senator Rockefeller's letter follows.
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