Six VSOs sent a joint letter to Congress urging legislators to fully fund the VA for fiscal year 2023. (Photo: Architect of the Capitol)
On Dec. 14, six veterans services organizations sent a joint letter to Congress expressing concerns that the VA will not have the funding it needs to execute provisions outlined in the Honoring Our PACT Act if a budget deal for fiscal year 2023 is not reached.
The heads of The American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Military Officers Association of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, and Wounded Warrior Project all signed the bill, urging Congress to adopt a full appropriation for the VA for fiscal year 2023. The VSOs allege that the existing continuing resolution—originally adopted for fiscal year 2022—will result in a $10.7 billion shortfall in funding that is likely to significantly hamper the department’s ability to process toxic exposure benefit claims made possible by the PACT Act.
“The urgency of getting this right—and getting it right as soon as possible—should match the urgency of passing the legislation earlier this year. We are indeed grateful for your action earlier this year, but our job is not done.”
As many as three million veterans are expected to file claims with the VA in the coming months, which is all but certain to create a backlog regardless of the status of the VA’s funding. However, the VSOs contend that if Congress fails to provide the VA with adequate funding, the department will be unable to hire and train the additional staff it will need to process claims.
Earlier this month, the VA announced that it had already begun the hiring process in anticipation of processing claims on Jan. 1, 2023, the earliest that most veterans can file a claim. It is currently unclear if the adoption of another continuing resolution would force the VA to backtrack.
Author: Christian Southards
Coming from a family with a proud military background and wanting to contribute his writing skills to a worthy cause, Christian began writing for the California American Legion in August of 2020. His father is a 25-year Army Veteran and his grandfather served in the Navy during Vietnam.
