Appendix A
The following is from the state of NJ Veteran Affairs Updates. Rudi Williams reports on the "New VA Secretary" concerning VA benefits. (http://www.state.nj.us/military/veterans/journal/spring2001/va_updates.html
"The $ 1.525 billion increase in VA medical care would include $ 141 million for
mental health programs, $ 100 million for higher pharmacy costs, $ 88 million for
long-term care, $ 75 million for staff to reduce waiting times, $ 68 million for
emergency care, $ 30 million for homeless programs, $ 23 million for spinal cord
injury programs, and $ 1 billion to adjust for inflation.
A $ 130 million increase proposed for the Veterans Benefits Administration
includes the $ 49.8 million for an additional 830 full-time employees to help deal
with a backlog in claims processing that is getting worse.
In addition to the $ 2.1 billion increase in discretionary spending, the VA
Committee recommends $ 300 million in additional direct spending for further
benefit increases in both the Montgomery GI Bill and the Veterans Opportunities
Act of 2001.
The VA Committee also recommends a $ 325 million increase for VA medical
facility repair. This would fund the Veterans Hospitals Emergency Repair Act
which would authorize a two-year total of $ 550 million. The VA Committee also
seeks modest increases for state nursing home and cemetery grants programs as
well as for the National Cemetery Administration."
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