As Congress works on appropriations bills for fiscal year 2002, I urge you to support adequate funding for veterans health care and other discretionary programs administered by the VA. The Independent Budget produced by the Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS, Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Veterans of Foreign Wars calls for a 15% increase in appropriations for veterans health care, benefits delivery, medical facilities construction, veterans cemeteries and other so-called discretionary programs for the coming fiscal year.

Federal spending on veterans health care over the past decade has not kept pace with medical inflation and associated cost increases. This has resulted in services to veterans being cut nationwide and in many cases delayed or denied access to care. Veterans health care has received only temporary relief from budget increases for the past two fiscal years. To shore up veterans health care and for VA to delivery world-class services that veterans rightly deserve we need a long-term funding commitment from Congress.

To meet rising inflation costs and increasing demands of an aging veteran population the Independent Budget recommends an appropriation of $22.9 billion. This recommendation is $2.6 billion above the fiscal year 2001 appropriation. Full details of the Independent Budget can be found at www.dav.org.

Inadequate funding creates numerous disheartening problems for those seeking medical care for conditions incurred during service. Veterans wait months for basic medical services such as an appointment with an orthopedic physician or assistance with prosthetic devices. The waiting period for nursing home care is so great that many eligible veterans will die before care is available.

In many instances, veterans must wait more than a year for an initial decision regarding claims for service-connected disability benefits. Should an appeal be necessary to correct an error in the decision, a veteran can expect at least another two years of waiting and frustration. Veterans with lost earning capacity due to disability often need compensation or pension to afford the basic necessities of life. The House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees have recommended an addition 830 employees, the same number as recommended in the Independent Budget, to help manage the growing claims backlog.