Filner Pledges to Fight for Budgets Worthy of Our Veterans

Washington, D.C. – House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) released the following statement on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act that was approved by Congress and sent to President Obama for his signature:   

“Congressional approval of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is the first major step in rebuilding our country’s economy.  The bill, H.R. 1, provides $1.4 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs, including $1 billion for maintenance at VA medical facilities, $150 million for State grants for the construction of veterans’ extended care facilities, and $50 million for veteran cemetery repairs. 

“This legislative compromise will help stabilize the economy, result in job creation, and provide economic development in local communities throughout our country, while also honoring our veterans. 

“The New Direction Congress approved unprecedented investments in our infrastructure and this Nation’s veterans.  I am disappointed that we could not provide more of an investment in this bill and I will continue to work to draw attention to the growing and unmet needs of our veterans.  Despite a successful 110th Congress, where $16.3 billion was added to the budget baseline and the budget was delivered on-time, I believe we must do more to provide adequate and timely funding to the VA.”