House Republicans introduced a bill on Sept. 6 to allocate nearly $2.9 billion in supplemental funding to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) due to a budget shortfall. The funding is intended for veterans’ compensation, pensions, and benefits.
Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Mike Bost (R-Ill.), highlighted a $2.88 billion deficit for the 2024 fiscal year and an $11.97 billion shortfall for the Veterans Health Administration, responsible for veterans’ benefits.
The bill mandates the VA secretary to provide a report to the House and Senate Appropriations and Veterans Affairs committees within 30 days of the bill’s enactment. Additionally, a status report on the allocated funds for the fiscal years 2024, 2025, and 2026 must be submitted within 60 days of the bill becoming law.
Subsequent reports every 90 days until Sept. 30, 2026, will detail changes to estimates or assumptions on obligations and expenditures. Inspector General reports will include a comparison of obligations and expenditures against the spend plan, reasons for diversions, accuracy of projections, and differences in funding for VA offices and facilities.
In a letter to VA Secretary Denis McDonough, Bost expressed concern over the department’s historic budget shortfall, citing unanticipated costs and lack of sufficient explanations. The Epoch Times has reached out to the VA for further comment on the bill.
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