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Post by RHMorgan on Apr 22, 2007 14:17:55 GMT -5
FY07 Department of Veterans Affairs Budget The year began dismally with President Bush’s Fiscal Year 2007 Budget that proposed cost increases in the TRICARE health system. The Department of Defense’s plans would have doubled fees on senior enlisted retirees and tripled them for officer retirees. For some retirees, that would have meant increases of up to $1,000 to their annual payments. The President’s FY07 budget also proposed an enrollment fee of $250 and an increase in drug copayments from $8 to $15 for Priority 7 and 8 veterans. Though this proposal was eventually rejected by Congress, in the mean time I was a cosponsor of HR 4949 to prohibit increases in fees for military health care.
Also, throughout the year, many of you expressed concern regarding funding for the VA’s programs, specifically those for veterans health care. The Republican Leadership failed to pass the FY07 funding bill for veterans programs before adjourning. As a result, the 12% increase to the VA’s budget approved by the House Military Quality of Life and VA subcommittee on which I sit was not enacted. Though the Continuing Resolution allowed the VA to transfer up to $684 million to the Veterans Health Administration for medical services, I remain concerned about robbing Peter to pay Paul and look forward to addressing this issue in the FY08 VA budget hearing cycle
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