The Honorable Mike Johnson
Majority Leader
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Chuck Schumer
Speaker
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Honorable Hakeem Jeffries
Minority Leader
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Mitch McConnell
Minority Leader
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides monthly benefits to veterans in recognition of the effects of disabilities incurred or aggravated during active military service. VA also provides monthly payments to surviving spouses, dependent children, and dependent parents in recognition of the economic loss caused by a veteran’s death during military service or, after discharge from military service, as a result of a service-connected disability. Veterans, service members, and qualified family members may also receive help with paying college tuition, finding a school or training program, and getting career counseling. Each month, millions of veterans and their family members rely on these earned benefits to make ends meet, and many could not afford to have these payments delayed even one day.
On July 15, 2024, VA officials informed Congress that the department requires an additional $2.9 billion in mandatory funding to support veterans’ pensions and benefits for the remaining months of the current fiscal year. Unless Congress approves this needed funding by September 20th, roughly seven million veterans and their beneficiaries may not receive VA disability compensation and other benefits as scheduled on October 1st.
VA also needs an extra $12 billion in order to provide medical care for veterans and support their caregivers in fiscal year 2025. This is on top of what has already been provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, (P.L. 118-47) earlier this year, or projected allocations in the House and Senate’s fiscal year 2025 Military Construction-VA bills.
Although we support efforts to ensure accountability for the use of VA funds, these shortfalls are not the fault of our veterans and their families who have given so much to our country. They must not be asked to bear further burdens such as delayed benefits and inadequate medical care due to funding challenges. We urge Congress to act swiftly to approve the necessary funding so there is no gap in either benefits or needed health care.
Cc: House and Senate Appropriations and Veterans Affairs Committees
Paralyzed Veterans of America
Disabled American Veterans
Veterans of Foreign Wars
The American Legion
Military Officers Association of America
Wounded Warrior Project
Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors
Independence Fund
Blinded Veterans Association
Fleet Reserve Association
Student Veterans of America
Air Force Sergeants Association
Quality of Life Foundation
America’s Warrior Partnership
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America
Jewish War Veterans of the USA
The Elizabeth Dole Foundation
Vietnam Veterans of America
Military Order of the Purple Heart
