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VA Funding May be Cut or Reduced
ACTION: Consider writing your own letter to your Representative/Senator [and members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees and Veterans Affairs Committees] or use the example below. You could also call or visit your congressperson’s local office or attend one of their town hall meetings. If you have time, you could also make a difference by writing a letter to the editor of your local newspaper about your service and how VA funding/spending cuts would impact you personally. Congress needs to hear about the consequences of their actions on real people.
FACT SHEET: Impact of Holding VA Funding at FY 2022 Levels
● Mental Health funding could be cut by $2.3B reducing care for PTSD, MST, TBI, etc.
● Caregivers’ support funding could be cut by $846M.
● Women’s Health (all care – not just reproductive care) funding could be cut by $1.6B.
● Grants to State Homes could be cut by $100M with the backlog of requests growing,
● The Veterans Benefits Administration could be cut by $409M causing a reduction in staff by 1,178. This staff processes benefit claims and provides other services. In addition, VBA would have to delay planned improvements to pension processing and be unable to implement the Veterans’ Transition Assistance Grant Program as required by Public Law 116-315 just passed in 2020. This would also cause the backlog of claims to grow and delay benefits to veterans. Planned public information campaigns to ensure veterans know what benefits this law is supposed to provide them would be impacted as well.
● The VA Benefits Board could be cut by $57M forcing the Board to eliminate 176 from its small staff and reduce other spending resulting in a reduction in the number of hearings held. This would mean even longer wait times for claims appeals,
● The IT improvement plan could be cut by $345M preventing faster benefit claims processing and preventing the implementation of other services beneficiaries have been asking for. Staff would have to be reduced by at least 250.
● Research funding could be cut by $34M which would result in a staff reduction of 938 positions and force the VA to cancel planned and needed investments in research on TBI, precision oncology, the impact of toxic exposure on unique veteran populations including women and minorities, women’s specific prosthetics, etc.
● The National Cemetery Administration could be cut by $36M which would mean not filling needs for burials and military honors at existing cemeteries, not activating recently opened cemeteries, and delaying opening of new cemeteries. The small staff could be reduced by at least 64 positions.
● The Inspector General’s office could be cut by $34M which would hamper the IG’s ability to investigate a backlog of veterans’ complaints and it would prevent the oversight the VA is required to do by law.
● The General Counsel’s Office could be cut by $32M which would prevent the VA from hiring and retaining staff needed in the GC office and in Human Resources. This means it will be harder to bring a lawsuit, get justice, or get other services.
Servicemember or Veteran Letter
Dear Senator/ Representative ______________,
I understand that some members of Congress may propose holding 2023 and 2024-2025 spending and funding on veterans’ health care and benefits to 2022 levels. This would all but prevent recent significant advances like the implementation of the PACT Act on toxic exposure and the funding for women’s health care initiatives. These measures were passed with bipartisan support, but this action would tell a veteran like me that Congress doesn’t value the sacrifices my family and I made for this country, your constituents, and your family.
If funding and spending levels are held to FY 2022 levels, planned increases to staffing to enable veterans to get past long wait times to schedule and receive care, whether at VA facilities or in the community, for critical conditions or screening would disappear. In addition, facility repairs (including remediation of toxic substances and mold), improvements, and the construction of needed places for underserved and rural beneficiaries will stop.
[Add your personal stories of having difficulties receiving care, making claims, or receiving benefits. You can also include any successes you’ve encountered that you think are due to the VA receiving additional resources, including administrative and medical staffing. See the FACT SHEET above for shortfalls and cuts that could impact you and your family.]
I gave to this country; please don’t take the benefits I earned and need. Please don’t stop making critical improvements. Please show veterans and prospective recruits that our sacrifices mean something to you and that you will keep the promises made to us.
Very Sincerely,
On Behalf of a Servicemember or Veteran
Dear Senator/ Representative ______________,
I understand that some members of Congress may propose holding 2023 and 2024-2025 spending and funding on veterans’ health care and benefits to 2022 levels. These measures were passed with bipartisan support, but this proposal would tell veterans that Congress doesn’t value the sacrifices veterans made for this country, their constituents, and their families. This would all but prevent recent significant advances like the implementation of the PACT Act on toxic exposure and the funding for women’s health care initiatives.
If funding and spending levels are held at lower levels, planned increases to staffing to enable veterans to get past long wait times to schedule and receive care, whether at VA facilities or in the community, for critical conditions or screening would be negatively impacted. In addition, facility repairs (including remediation of toxic substances and mold), improvements, and new construction of needed places for underserved and rural beneficiaries will stop.
[Add specific stories of veterans you know and their families’ difficulties receiving care, making claims, or receiving benefits. You could also include any successes you know they’ve had due to the VA receiving additional resources, including administrative and medical staffing. See the FACT SHEET above for shortfalls and cuts that will impact veteran(s) you know and their family.]
They gave to this country; please don’t take the benefits they earned and need. Please don’t stop the necessary improvements that the VA requires. Please show veterans, their families, and prospective recruits that their sacrifices mean something to you and that you will keep promises made to them.
Very Sincerely,
Contact Your Representative/Senators
Also referred to as a congressman, congresswoman, or congressperson, each representative is elected to a two-year term serving the people of a specific congressional district. To contact your congressperson click the “Find Your Representative” button to go to the Directory of Representatives. There you are able to find your Representative by state, district, or last name. Once you find your Representative click their name and you will be taken to their website. Once you are there look for the “Contact Me” tab for email information.
Each state has two Senators who represent the entire state, serving six-year terms. To contact your Senator click the “Find Your Senator” button to go to the Directory of Senators. There you are able to find your Senator by state or last name. Once you find your Senator click their name and you will be taken to their website. Once you are there look for the “Contact Me” tab for email information.