Updated 7/23/07

VETERANS' ISSUES

As a veteran, Congressman Dingell understands the importance of keeping our promises to those who have served to protect our nation from foreign threats. He is working to ensure veterans receive the care and benefits that they were promised when they entered the service.

During the first five months of Democratic leadership, the 110th Congress voted to increase veterans’ health care programs by $11.8 billion, which is a greater increase than in the past five fiscal years combined. Congressman Dingell repeatedly spoke out on the need for increased funding for veterans.

The budget passed by Congress for Fiscal Year 2008 includes a $6.7 billion (18 percent) increase in the veterans' budget -- the largest annual increase in VA health care spending in the 77 year history of the Veterans Administration. Click here for a fact sheet on the 2008 veterans' budget.

The 2007 Supplemental Appropriations Act, signed into law on May 25 2007, will provide $1.8 billion more for veterans' health care than the President requested, including:

• $595 million to address the backlog in maintaining VA health care facilities
• $250 million to hire additional personnel for the administration of the VA health care system
• $229 million for treating the growing number of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans
• $100 million for mental health care for veterans
• $83 million to speed up the processing of claims of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan

News from the 110th Congress:

Selected News from Previous Congresses

Additional Resources:

House Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs