House panel approves $82.5 billion veterans bill

A House Appropriations panel on Thursday approved an $85.2 billion bill to fund medical care for veterans, Department of Defense health programs, military construction and military housing in fiscal 2006.

Flexing its muscle early in its tenure, the newly formed Military Quality of Life Subcommittee approved on voice vote a bill that is nearly $1 billion above President Bush's budget request and represents a nearly $6 billion increase over the amount appropriated in fiscal 2005.

"This bill represents an opportunity to make an impact on the quality of life for our soldiers, sailors and marines and I believe we have done that," said Subcommittee Chairman James Walsh, R-N.Y.

Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas, said that the bill provides a $1.6 billion increase in funds for veterans' medical care and benefits, including mental health services, which called "critical." He said he recognized that money is tight, but said that he hoped the Congress would "take into account" the increasing needs of veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq, particularly in the area of mental health.

The bill provides $2.2 billion for specialty mental health care and doubles funding for mental health research. Veterans' benefits are increased by $1.5 billion over last fiscal year, reflecting "expanded benefits for Guard and Reserve personnel" according to a committee document. It includes $20 billion for defense health programs, an increase of $1.8 billion over the last fiscal year's level.

The measure includes $5.8 billion for military construction projects, nearly half a billion more than Bush requested. Walsh said the funds also would be used to eliminate 30,000 inadequate housing units. Walsh noted the $1.9 billion included in the bill for base realignment and closure activities and reminded the panel that BRAC recommendations are due on Friday. "We view those as recommendations only," Walsh said wryly, but said the money is at least there to shut down or combine bases.

The bill calls for a study on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, particularly in light of the recent returnees from Iraq and Afghanistan who are experiencing the disorder. Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., supported the bill but suggested that in the future, the committee might want to deal more vigorously with the issue of severely maimed veterans' compensation. Obey, the ranking Democrat on the full committee called for the panel to analyze the earning power of a normal 22-year-old who returns from combat unscathed against a severely disabled veteran of the same age. Walsh said the committee is "uniquely positioned" to review the matter.

The full committee is to take up the bill next week with the idea that it will be on the House floor before Memorial Day, Walsh said. A similar bill is poised for action in the Senate, Walsh said. He said though the bill increases the budget over the president's request, he has not heard objections from the White House to the extra money. "I think this will be a very popular bill," Walsh said.