OEF/OIF/OND population will continue to trend upward as the military services drawdown their forces and as worldwide conflicts end. Additionally, it remains to be seen what impact the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act will have on utilization of VA health care services. As with FY 2014, believes that there are additional projected funding The Independent Budget needs for VA. In FY 2015, the once again believes that $375 million should be directed IB towards long-term care program. Additionally, we believe that a continued increase in VA’s centralized prosthetics funding will be essential. In order to meet the continued increase in demand for prosthetics, the recommends an additional $300 million. Finally, for Medical IB Support and Compliance, recommends approximately $6.14 billion. The Independent Budget Meanwhile, for Medical Facilities, recommends approximately $5.69 The Independent Budget billion. Additionally, responsibility is more important than ever, particularly in light of their GAO’s findings concerning the FY 2012 budget submission last year. The GAO report that analyzed the FY 2012 Administration budget identified serious deficiencies in the budget formulation of VA. Yet these concerns were not appropriately addressed by Congress or the Administration. This analysis and the subsequent lack of action to correct these deficiencies simply affirm the ongoing need for the GAO to evaluate the budget recommendations of VA. For this reason, we would like to thank Representative Brownley for introducing H.R. 806, the Healthcare “Veterans Improvement This legislation permanently establishes the Government Accountability Act.” reporting requirements as a part of VA advance appropriations. We hope that the Office’s Committee will give this legislation consideration as soon as possible, and we urge all members of the Committee to support the bill. Finally, we would like to applaud Chairman Miller and Ranking Member Michaud for introducing H.R. 813, the Veterans Funding First Act of This legislation “Putting 2013.” requires all accounts of the VA to be funded through the advance appropriations process. It would provide protection for the operations of the entire VA from the political wrangling that occurs as a part of the appropriations process every year.
OEF/OIF/OND population will continue to trend upward as the military services drawdown their forces and as worldwide conflicts end. Additionally, it remains to be seen what impact the full implementation of the Affordable Care Act will have on utilization of VA health care services. As with FY 2014, The Independent Budget believes that there are additional projected funding needs for VA. In FY 2015, the IB once again believes that $375 million should be directed towards VA’s long-term care program. Additionally, we believe that a continued increase in centralized prosthetics funding will be essential. In order to meet the continued increase in demand for prosthetics, the IB recommends an additional $300 million. Finally, for Medical Support and Compliance, The Independent Budget recommends approximately $6.14 billion. Meanwhile, for Medical Facilities, The Independent Budget recommends approximately $5.69 billion. Additionally, GAO’s responsibility is more important than ever, particularly in light of their findings concerning the FY 2012 budget submission last year. The GAO report that analyzed the FY 2012 Administration budget identified serious deficiencies in the budget formulation of VA. Yet these concerns were not appropriately addressed by Congress or the Administration. This analysis and the subsequent lack of action to correct these deficiencies simply affirm the ongoing need for the GAO to evaluate the budget recommendations of VA. For this reason, we would like to thank Representative Brownley for introducing H.R. 806, the “Veterans Healthcare Improvement Act.” This legislation permanently establishes the Government Accountability Office’s reporting requirements as a part of VA advance appropriations. We hope that the Committee will give this legislation consideration as soon as possible, and we urge all members of the Committee to support the bill. Finally, we would like to applaud Chairman Miller and Ranking Member Michaud for introducing H.R. 813, the “Putting Veterans Funding First Act of 2013.” This legislation requires all accounts of the VA to be funded through the advance appropriations process. It would provide protection for the operations of the entire VA from the political wrangling that occurs as a part of the appropriations process every year.