House Passes Calvert Cosponsored Bill to Protect Veterans Benefits
Today, the House of Representatives passed the Veterans Benefits Continuity and Accountability Supplemental Appropriations Act, H.R. 9468, to ensure veterans benefits remain uninterrupted and hold the Biden Administration accountable for its egregious budgeting errors. Rep. Calvert was an original cosponsor of the legislation.
“Today, the House upheld its commitment to our veterans by ensuring they continue to receive the benefits they have earned,” said Rep. Calvert. “It’s critical the VA take the necessary steps to avoid this situation in the future. I hope this legislation is quickly approved by the Senate and signed into law by the President to relieve any concerns our veterans may have about receiving their benefits.”
The bill is supported by the following veteran advocacy organizations:
- The American Legion
- Amvets
- Veterans of Foreign Wars
- Jewish War Veterans
- Concerned Veterans for America
- The Independence Fund
- Paralyzed Veterans of America
- Vietnam Veterans of America
- Wounded Warrior Project
Background:
The Department of Veteran Affairs’ (VA) failure to properly budget and account for enrollment growth and staffing costs in its budgetary process resulted in an unprecedented funding shortfall in veteran benefits for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2024 and into Fiscal Year 2025.
The House Appropriations Committee was notified of the potential shortfall in July - four months after the Biden-Harris Administration submitted its Budget Request and following the markup of FY25 legislation in both chambers of Congress. The VA’s updated projections indicated a need of approximately $15 billion above what was originally requested, including an additional $3 billion for the remainder of FY24 for Compensation and Pensions and Readjustment Benefits (mandatory funding) and an additional $12 billion for FY25 for VA medical care (discretionary funding).
The Veterans Benefits Continuity and Accountability Supplemental Appropriations Act addresses the $3 billion shortfall in mandatory funding, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates would have no net budget effects. The bill also includes language that holds the Administration accountable, requiring a report to be submitted to Congress no later than 30 days after enactment as to why these budgetary errors took place and ways the VA is addressing its failure to accurately project needs and recurring reports on the status of funds of these accounts moving forward.
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