[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 145 (Thursday, October 8, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2499-E2500]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    VETERANS HEALTH CARE BUDGET REFORM AND TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2009

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                               speech of

                           HON. MAXINE WATERS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 7, 2009

  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. R. 1016--To amend 
title 38, United States Code, to provide new discretionary budget 
authority for certain medical care accounts of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs. This bill would ensure sufficient, timely, and 
predictable veterans funding so that the Department of Veterans Affairs 
would have the Federal funding to better serve veterans' medical needs 
and improve health care services. This is a very timely and important 
measure as many of our troops today are returning

[[Page E2500]]

home in need of accessible and adequate health care services. 
Therefore, I strongly commend my colleague Bob Filner for bringing this 
measure before the floor.
  This bill provides for a new two-fiscal-year discretionary budget 
authority for three critical accounts of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs: medical services, medical support and compliance, and medical 
facilities. Accordingly, this measure will give the Department of 
Veterans Affairs sufficient time to effectively plan how it will 
deliver the best care to a growing number of veterans with increasingly 
complex medical conditions. And to ensure that the funds are being used 
appropriately, H.R. 1016 requires the United States Comptroller General 
to conduct a study to determine the adequacy and accuracy of the 
department's budget model projections.
  My military constituents often turn to me for support in confronting 
the many challenges they face when working with the Department of 
Veterans Affairs. We have come to understand, that many of the 
challenges in efficient health care services are attributable to the 
Department of Veterans Affairs' inadequate funding. Over the last two 
decades, the appropriated funds for medical care have not been provided 
to the Department of Veterans Affairs in a timely manner. This has 
resulted in the department's problems in planning and managing care for 
enrolled veterans. Accordingly, this bill addresses this budgetary 
problem and allows for advance appropriations to ensure the department 
has the Federal backing to effectively address the medical needs of our 
Nation's veterans.
  As a vocal advocate for veterans' rights, I am pleased to add my 
voice of support for H.R. 1016. I look forward to working with my 
colleagues to ensure that we continue to provide the necessary 
resources towards improving our Department of Veterans Affairs' health 
care programs and administrative services.

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