Published: June 06, 2008 03:48 pm      

’09 budget increases funding for vets

Final passage of the fiscal year 2009 budget passed the U.S. House Thursday after having passed the U.S. Senate on Wednesday.

The budget increases veterans’ spending over last year by $4.9 billion.

“When it comes to veterans, our nation has a moral obligation to keep its promise to those who kept their promises to serve our nation in uniform,” U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Waco, said. “After years of veterans budgets that barely, if at all, kept pace with inflation, leaving America’s heroes with inadequate health care and benefits, it is now a new day for our vets.”

Edwards, a senior member of the House Budget Committee, was a member of the House-Senate conference committee that wrote the final budget plan that included the increase in veterans’ spending.

“Starting in 2007, the new Congress increased veterans health care and benefits by $11.8 billion, the largest increase in the 77 year history of the Veterans Administration,” Edwards said. “Today, I am proud to say that the 2009 budget plan keeps faith with America’s veterans by increasing VA funding to $48.2 billion, $3.3 billion above the Bush administration’s request and $4.9 billion above the record 2008 level.”

Major veterans groups strongly supported the budget, including the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Paralyzed Veterans of America, Edwards said.

Passage of the 2009 budget resolution puts America on a path to a balanced budget by 2012, Edwards said.

The budget passed the Senate by a 48 to 45 vote. It passed the House by a 214 to 210 vote.