White House budget officials said they won’t try to stop a possible increase in veterans’ spending proposed by the House of Representatives, but they have warned that spending bills for other federal agencies could be vetoed unless lawmakers make cuts in other programs to offset the increases for veterans.
The House veterans’ funding bill proposes a $6.7 billion increase over the current-year budget, which is $3.8 billion more than proposed by the Bush administration.
Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas, chairman of the appropriations subcommittee responsible for veterans’ spending, said this is the biggest increase in 77-year history of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and that it reflects a concern by lawmakers that veterans’ programs must be improved in time of war.
“This bill is about respect and honors the promises made to our veterans with historic increases in funding to provide them the health care and benefits they earned when they put on our nation's uniform,” Edwards said in a statement.
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