Senators seek hike in veterans funding

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins are asking the leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee that oversees funding for veterans programs to allocate $29.8 billion for veterans health care, a $3.2 billion increase over the appropriated amount in last year’s budget and $2.9 billion more than the administration’s proposal.

“The administration’s modest proposal for veterans health care funding could jeopardize quality and access for thousands of veterans, particularly in the northeast,” said Snowe and Collins in a joint statement. “We believe the $29.8 billion budget is a more adequate level of funding to help the VA to meet the challenges of medical inflation and mandatory salary costs, and at the same time, improve quality and access.”

The senators’ request is consistent with the level of funding called for in the Independent Budget, an annual assessment of the VA Health Care System conducted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Disabled American Veterans, and AMVETS.

Snowe and Collins also requested $150 million for the State Veterans Homes grants account, which provides funding for Maine’s veterans homes in Caribou, Bangor, Augusta, South Paris and Scarborough.

“While the veterans population nationwide is declining in number, their average age is increasing, and this trend is resulting in additional demands for services, including nursing home care,” said the senators. “In Maine, most of the veterans population is of an age where short-term or long-term nursing care or home care is typically required. It is crucial that we provide sufficient support to allow state veterans homes to provide the quality of care that all our veterans deserve.”