Page 35 - Desert Oracle April 2022
P. 35
Issue #6 • Volume #30 March 31, 2022
Washington Update
Visit the PVAction Force page to view our latest alerts and a list of key
legislation and its status.
PRESIDENT PRESENTS FY2023 BUDGET TO • $767 million for women veterans’ gender
CONGRESS specific care;
• $497 million to bolster veteran suicide
On March 28, the White House presented Congress prevention efforts;
with a $5.8 trillion budget plan to fund the • $430 million for the National Cemetery
government for fiscal year 2023. The proposal Administration to provide world-class
increases discretionary spending for almost every memorial benefits; and
agency and will help preserve timely access to high • $120 million to tackle the disability claims
quality services and benefits for veterans. backlog.
The President requested a total of $301.4 billion for The proposed budget also includes $128 billion in
VA which is roughly 10.6 percent more than current advance appropriations for VA medical care
year levels. $139.1 billion of that amount would go programs in fiscal year 2024. At first glance, this is
towards health care delivery and the remaining a very good proposal with many of the figures
$161.3 billion would be provided for education tracking closely or slightly exceeding the
programs, disability compensation for veterans, and Independent Budget’s recommendations, which
survivor benefits. Specific amounts for several key were released last month. Click here to view VA’s
programs and initiatives are as follows: full budget proposal and related documents.
• $13.9 billion for VA mental health care; DOT HOLDS PUBLIC MEETING ON AIR TRAVEL
• $5.8 billion for VA Information Technology; EXPERIENCE OF WHEELCHAIR USERS
• $3 billion for the construction and expansion
of critical VA infrastructure and facilities; On March 24, the Department of Transportation
• $2.7 billion to end veteran homelessness; (DOT) held a public meeting on the air travel
• $1.8 billion for the VA Program of experience of wheelchair users. The meeting
Comprehensive Assistance for Family focused on wheelchair damage and the experience
Caregivers; of wheelchair users in using the aisle chair. During
• $916 million for VA research; the meeting, DOT announced that it would be
