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Congressman
Paul Ryan
All Americans owe a debt of gratitude to our country’s bravest individuals – those who have served and given their lives in defense of freedom and liberty. On the heels of much-needed funding increases in Fiscal Year 2009, Congress again responded with funding levels consistent with our duty to provide for the needs of our nation’s veterans and their families. The well-being and long-term health of America’s servicemen and women are very important, and I have worked hard in Congress to help provide the best care possible for our veterans and current uniformed service members.
The President’s Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Request
President Obama’s budget requested $533.8 billion for the Department of Defense (DOD), a 4% increase over the previous year’s budget. It also requested an additional $205.9 billion to cover military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan through FY2010. I applaud the President’s efforts to budget honestly for the costs of Iraq and Afghanistan, and his commitment to tackle the Pentagon’s bloated and inefficient weapons development and acquisition process. However, I am concerned about the lack of attention given to the rising costs of DOD healthcare, whose accelerating growth rate puts the safety of our troops at risk over the long term.
While there are many ways to streamline the DOD budget, Congress must not forget its promises to our troops, our veterans at home, and the families of all who serve. Our troops overseas must be provided with the tools they need to complete their mission and return to their families as soon and as safely as possible. Further, we must also work to ensure our veterans and the families of all service members receive the care, and services they need in a timely, convenient, and efficient manner.
FY2010 Department of Defense Appropriations
The brave soldiers who are serving our country in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have made tremendous personal sacrifices in order to make the world a safer place. I am grateful to our troops for their service, and I am working to provide them with the equipment they need to achieve their missions safely and effectively and return to their families as soon as possible. Congress must also ensure that the families of these courageous individuals are thanked and cared for while their loved ones are away. On July 30, 2009, the House passed H.R. 3326, the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Appropriations Act, which included $508 billion for the DOD programs. Specifically, the bill contains:
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Military Pay Raise: Provisions were added to provide a 3.4% pay increase to our military, a 0.5% increase over the President’s request.
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Stop-Loss Compensation: Provides $8.3 million in FY2009 to fund additional payments to any service member held on active duty past their enlistment date under a “Stop Loss” order. Affected soldiers can receive up to an additional $500 per month.
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First Class Health Care: Provides $29.9 billion for DOD health care, a 13 percent increase over FY2009. It also includes $500 million for Traumatic Brain Injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and other psychological health issues, an increase of $128 million above the President’s request.
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Support for Families: Includes $472.4 million for Family Advocacy programs and fully funds Family Support and Yellow Ribbon programs. The bill includes $20 million for Army National Guard Family Assistance Centers and reintegration.
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No Permanent Bases in Iraq: Prohibits funds from being used to construct permanent bases in Iraq or to exercise control over oil resources in Iraq.
In addition, H.R. 3326 provides $129.6 billion for FY2010 operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. It also includes important policy provisions banning funds from being used to close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay until the President presents Congress with an acceptable plan for processing the detainees held there. In addition, the bill reaffirms prohibitions on the use of torture against any detainee in U.S. custody.
H.R. 3326 also made attempts to bring fiscal discipline to certain DOD programs. Specifically, the final bill eliminated funding for the advance procurement of additional F-22 Raptor air superiority fighters, reduced funding for private security contractors, and increased funding for additional investigators in the DOD Inspector General’s office. However, I was disappointed the bill included additional funding for sourcing an unnecessary alternative engine for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. While there is no doubt these weapons programs are essential to the security of our nation, their out-of-control cost growth is placing serious strain on the ability of DOD to protect our troops and their standard of living.
As Congress works with the Obama Administration to scale down operations in Iraq and refocus our efforts in Afghanistan, I will continue working to provide our troops with the tools, equipment, and supplies they need to complete their mission and return home as soon as possible.
FY2010 Military Construction, VA and Related Agencies Appropriations
I am happy to report that Congress made significant progress on veterans’ programs this year. I supported H.R. 3082, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2010, because it includes 108.8 billion in funding for veterans and related military programs, an increase of $14.5 billion over FY2009. The bill also includes $48.2 billion in advance appropriations for anticipated veteran medical accounts in Fiscal Year 2011. Specifically, the bill also includes:
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$34.7 billion for veterans medical services, including $4.6 billion for PTSD treatment, suicide prevention initiatives, and other mental health issues.
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$3.2 billion in assistance for homeless veterans, including $26 million for a Presidential Initiative to combat homelessness, $150 million in grants for homeless veterans, $20 million for support services for low-income vets and their families, and $21 million for the VA – HUD Supportive Housing Program.
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$580 million for the medical and prosthetic research account to help service members who have lost limbs in service to our country.
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$3.3 billion for advanced information technology development to help improve record keeping and benefits processing. This funding will also cover new initiatives including paperless benefits processing and improvements to new electronic health records.
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$106 million for the VA Inspector General’s office to hire additional oversight personnel regarding financial audit and new information technology program implementation.
I believe that the funding for veterans’ benefits and health care is one of the most important responsibilities of the federal government, and I am pleased that Congress was able to come together in support of our nation’s veterans with these funding and policy reforms. I was also pleased this bill included advance appropriations for FY2011, which should help the VA more adequately budget for anticipated veteran medical costs. I urge the Senate to take action on this important legislation, and in the meantime, I will continue to work to provide greater care for those who have served our nation and made great sacrifices for all of us.
New GI Bill Benefits
The 1944 Servicemen’s Readjustment Act allowed more than 8 million servicemen returning from the battlefields of World War II to receive college tuition benefits from the federal government. These benefits made it easier for veterans to obtain the education and training they needed to reintegrate into society and help drive the post-war economy. While well-intentioned, the program has been unable to cover the rising costs of college and university education.
The Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, enacted as part of a larger supplemental spending package for Fiscal Year 2008, provides enhanced educational benefits for veterans and service members that more accurately pace the cost of today’s average college education. The bill also establishes the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance program, under which veterans and service members who have served on active duty in the armed forces on or after September 11, 2001, may receive assistance towards the cost of tuition and fees, a monthly housing allowance, and a stipend for books and supplies. In addition, the bill grants authority for service members who meet certain criteria to be permitted to transfer unused veterans education benefits to family members. Finally, it also increases maximum monthly benefits amounts under the Montgomery GI Bill-Active Duty program and the Reserve Educational Assistance Program.
I applaud and support Congress’ efforts to get these much-deserved benefits to the veterans who put their lives on the line in defense of our freedom. However, it is unfortunate that the House Leadership chose to hold veterans and service members’ benefits in order to pass billions of dollars of non-emergency funding in the FY2008 supplemental appropriations bill. While I could not support the overall appropriations bill because it circumvents Congress’ own rules for fiscal accountability, I am glad our returning service members will receive the educational benefits they need to be successful after their service.
Additional Information
For more information on military and veterans’ issues and priorities, please refer to the following
web sites:
U.S.
Department of Veterans
Affairs: www.va.gov
Support
Our Troops - How You Can Help: http://www.americasupportsyou.com/americasupportsyou/help.html
U.S. Department of Defense: www.defenselink.mil
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