Congress Urged to Pass Advance Appropriation Legislation in The Independent Budget Fiscal Year 2009
The Independent Budget, an annual comprehensive statement of policy and budget information co-authored by AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America and Veterans of Foreign Wars, joined the call for Congress to reform the veterans’ health care funding process by changing to an advance appropriation process in order to ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs receives a sufficient, timely and predictable budget.  The Independent Budget also endorsed policy initiatives including increased funding to expand service for women veterans, family caregivers, and treatment of traumatic brain injury; these recommendations will play influential roles as lawmakers consider new veterans health care legislation during the 111th Congress.
 
Media Coverage of The Independent Budget’s Suggestions
In “$3.6 Billion Hike Urged for VA Health Care,” the Military Times’ Rick Maze described The Independent Budget’s call for an increase in veterans programs and health care spending.  Discussing the credibility of The Independent Budget, Maze wrote “recommendations made in the Independent Budget often become a benchmark used by members of Congress to judge the adequacy of administration budget requests.”