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Issue #3 • Volume #29 February 14, 2022
Washington Update
Visit the PVAction Force page to view our latest alerts and a list of key
legislation and its status.
INDEPENDENT BUDGET RECOMMENDATIONS and minorities; and $1.8 billion to close the gap in
RELEASED clinical care and support vacancies across VHA.
This year's IB recommendations also contain
The Independent Budget veterans service significant plus ups for VA's Home and Community-
organizations (IBVSOs) – DAV, PVA, and the VFW Based Services, including additional funding to
– recently released VA budget recommendations for expand the Veteran Directed Care Program into
fiscal years (FY) 2023 and 2024. The every VA Medical Center.
recommendations serve as a roadmap to ensure
VA is fully funded and capable of carrying out its For the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), the
mission to serve veterans and their families, both IBVSOs recommend a total of $3.9 billion for FY
now and in the future. 2023—an increase of approximately $510
million over the estimated FY 2022 appropriations
The Independent Budget's (IB) recommendations, level—and $251 million for the Board of Veterans'
coupled with the Administration's FY 2023 budget Appeals (BVA). The IB recommendations include
proposal, will be used to guide Congress with its additional information technology (IT) funding for
spending decisions for the coming year. For FY both VBA and BVA to modernize their IT
2023, the IBVSOs recommend $121.2 billion for the infrastructure, reduce backlogs, and streamline the
Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to meet the delivery of benefits.
full demand for care both within VA's health care
facilities and its Community Care Networks. The IB The IBVSOs believe VA infrastructure projects,
report details specific funding levels and targeted including those that present a safety risk to veterans
increases for VHA programs, including a $490 and employees, must continue to be fully funded
million increase for the Caregiver Support even as the Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR)
Program, $395 million boost for homeless veterans' process plays out over the next several years. To
programs; $288 million more for mental health accomplish this, the IB recommends Congress
services and suicide prevention efforts; $160 appropriate $3.8 billion for VA's major and minor
million increase for health care for women veterans construction programs in FY 2023 to fund new and
