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Fiscal Year 2005 Budget Update |
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U.S. House of Representatives is currently considering its budget
resolution to set a broad plan for revenue and spending for fiscal year
(FY) 2005 that begins October 1, 2004. Also being considered are
proposals in the President’s budget for changes in the budget process
that would require Congress to greatly reduce spending on programs,
other than defense and homeland security, to help offset the loss of
revenue from tax cuts. The budget process changes include binding caps on discretionary spending, such as veterans’ medical care, and reinstatement of a pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) rule that would require any increase in spending on a mandatory program, such as disability compensation, to be offset by an equal reduction in spending on another mandatory program. In addition to a PAYGO rule, Congress may enact “reconciliation” measures to require reductions in spending on mandatory programs. Such reductions require changes in law that reduce or eliminate veterans’ entitlement to benefits. The discretionary caps proposed by the President would require deep cuts in discretionary programs, in the years after FY 2005 and after the presidential and congressional election. Funding for veterans’ medical care would be cut by 17% below current funding adjusted for inflation by FY 2009. If it became necessary to spend higher than projected amounts on defense and homeland security—which is highly likely—even deeper reductions in programs such as veterans’ medical care would be required. Under the PAYGO rule, Congress could not add or expand benefits without cutting other benefits by an equal amount. For example, if new scientific evidence revealed that a particular disease is caused by factors of internment as a prisoner of war or by exposure to some hazard such as radiation or Agent Orange during military service, Congress could not enact provisions to compensate these disabilities as service connected without taking away benefits from another group, such as another group of veterans who receive benefits. In effect, one group of veterans would be required to pay for the benefits of another group of veterans. Reconciliation provisions would simply take away veterans’ benefits to help pay for the tax cuts. It is critical that Congress not enact these severe and unreasonable proposals to reduce spending on veterans’ programs. Call your senators and House member today to urge them to vote against any budget resolution or other bill that contains discretionary caps, PAYGO provisions, or reconciliation instructions for veterans’ programs, and that does not provide funding above the amount requested by the President for veterans’ medical care, at a level sufficient to enable VA to provide timely adequate care to sick and disabled veterans. Alternatively, you may send a prepared email message to your Representative by entering your zip code. |
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