| | Dear Mr. Miller: Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding the budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). I appreciate hearing from you about this issue. I have the deepest respect and gratitude for American servicemembers and their contributions to our national security. We must ensure that all veterans have what they need during and after their service to the Nation, including access to the health care, education, and employment benefits that they have earned. I take my duty to our servicemembers and veterans very seriously. I have heard from many constituents with concerns about Congress’ ability to pass supplemental funding for the VA before September 20, 2024. The VA had a funding shortfall this year due to increases in enrollment in VA health care, appointments, and benefits applications resulting from the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. I strongly supported the PACT Act and am proud to have helped pass a law that has provided so many veterans, including over 40,000 Pennsylvania veterans, the disability and health care benefits they earned through their service. Congress has a duty to ensure that the federal government can provide all those benefits to our veterans. That is why, on September 19, 2024, I supported passage of H.R. 9468, the Veterans Benefits Continuity and Accountability Supplemental Appropriations Act. This bill provides the $2.9 billion in funding required by the VA to ensure that veterans’ compensation and pension benefit payments are not delayed in October. The bill also makes increased reporting requirements for VA aiming to improve its forecasting and budget assumptions to avoid another similar shortfall in the future. As your United States Senator, I strongly support robust funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Please be assured that I will continue to monitor the Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations process and advocate for sufficient funding to support our veterans. Again, thank you for sharing your thoughts with me. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future about this or any other matter of importance to you.For more information on this or other issues, I encourage you to visit my website, https://casey.senate.gov. I hope you will find this online office a comprehensive resource to stay up-to-date on my work in Washington, request assistance from my office, or share with me your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you and to Pennsylvania. |
Sincerely,
Bob Casey
United States Senator |
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