Pappas Calls on Congress to Address Veterans Benefits Funding
Pappas has sounded the alarm on VA’s budgetary decisions while introducing legislation to address backlogs and delays and improve staffing and training.
Following the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) notification to Congress of an anticipated funding shortfall by September 20, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, wrote to Speaker Mike Johnson urging Congress to work in a bipartisan fashion to pass emergency supplemental funding to safeguard the benefits of millions of veterans across the country.
Until additional funding is allocated, the compensation and pension payments to over 7 million veterans and survivors remain at risk.
Pappas wrote: “Late last month, VA informed Congress of anticipated funding shortfalls before the end of Fiscal Year 2024, largely due to the PACT Act exceeding expectations in terms of attracting veterans who are enrolling in VA health care for the first time. In addition, VA has seen higher-than-expected veteran enrollment for VA benefits since the PACT Act was signed into law, as more veterans are receiving disability compensation and pension benefits. Furthermore, VA is already on track to award 20% more in GI Bill education benefits to newly eligible veterans and dependents under the legislation compared to last year.”
The letter continued: “On behalf of veterans across New Hampshire, I stand ready to work with leadership on both sides of the aisle and urge you to work in a bipartisan, bicameral fashion to expeditiously pass clean emergency supplemental funding legislation to ensure our veterans and their families receive the benefits they have earned.”
The letter also highlighted Pappas’s consistent efforts to hold VA accountable and ensure veterans get the care they need: “I have previously joined members of both parties in highlighting our serious concerns about VA’s budgetary plans as a member of the House Veterans Affairs’ Committee, which would neglect modernization needs and divert funding from VA health care. In this serious situation, time is of the essence. I plan to work in a bipartisan fashion with my colleagues to further investigate this shortfall, but with a deadline of less than a month and half, failure to immediately address this issue is not an option.”
Congressman Pappas has consistently pressed VA on the need to effectively implement the Honoring Our PACT Act and meet the needs of veterans seeking care for toxic exposure and other issues. Pappas's VA Workforce Investment and Expansion Act, which expands VA workforce by enhancing hiring practices and incentives to recruit and retain health care professionals, was included in that legislation.
Pappas has sounded the alarm on the Veterans Affairs' Committee about VA’s concerning budgetary decisions, backlogs at VA, and addressing issues that delay veterans from accessing the care they need, including bringing to light over a year ago his concerns about increased demand on VA following the passage of the PACT Act.
In March 2023, Pappas pressed VA Secretary Denis McDonough over PACT Act implementation and has made implementation a top priority this Congress.