[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 98 (Friday, June 26, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1573-E1574]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    VETERANS HEALTH CARE BUDGET REFORM AND TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. AL GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 23, 2009

  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 
1016, the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act.
  The men and women who have served our nation in combat deserve to be 
provided with the very best that we have to offer. One part of 
achieving that is getting these men and women the best health care that 
they can possibly have. In turn, it is critically important that the 
Veterans' Administration (VA) have assurances regarding their funding 
in a timely manner so that the VA can deliver health care in an 
efficient and timely manner.

[[Page E1574]]

  This important legislation authorizes Congress to approve VA medical 
care appropriations one year in advance of the start of each fiscal 
year. While we still have much further to go in terms of making sure 
that every hero returning home has all the care that they need, this 
bill will at least ensure that the VA will be able to plan ahead of 
time and get the most out of each health care dollar that they are 
allocated. Furthermore, because many VA budget cycles have, in recent 
years, started on continuing resolutions, some decisions may have been 
made on the basis rather than on the basis of the most effective 
treatment. We cannot jeopardize the health of our nation's finest 
because of what amounts to nothing more than a bureaucratic difficulty.
  I was proud to work with a number of colleagues to include a similar 
VA advanced appropriations provision in this year's congressional 
budget resolution, S. Con. Res. 13. Nevertheless, there is no reason 
why our veterans should need to count on Congress taking action every 
single year to keep this sensible policy in place. For this reason, it 
is imperative that we pass the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and 
Transparency Act.
  I am proud to be a co-sponsor of this important bill. I thank my good 
friend, the Chairman of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, Congressman 
Filner for introducing it and I encourage all of my colleagues to vote 
in support.

                          ____________________