Parts of this article are taken from Paralyzed Veterans of America website.

On October 22, 2009, President Obama signed into law H.R. 1016, the “Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009.”  This historic legislation makes funding for the health-care programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) an advance appropriation, guaranteeing sufficient, timely and predictable funding.

President Obama signaled his commitment to this needed reform during his campaign for the presidency last fall.  He followed through on this commitment by again supporting it in his budget submission for VA, released last spring.

President Crayton emphasized, “Many Members of the House and Senate deserve a great deal of credit for the passage of this important bill as well.  Specifically, we appreciate the efforts of House and Senate VA Committee Chairmen Bob Filner and Daniel Akaka and Senate VA Committee Ranking Member Richard Burr for steering these measures through their committees.  Also, our thanks go out to the Chairmen of the House and Senate Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Committees, Chet Edwards and Tim Johnson.  We would like to thank the Chairmen of the Budget Committees, Senator Kent Conrad and Congressman John Spratt, for including this proposal in their Budget Resolutions earlier this year.  Finally, we owe our gratitude to Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, and all of the Members of the House and Senate who voted in favor of this landmark legislation.”

“Funding for VA has too often been late, sometimes as much as six months late, and that is no way to care for American heroes and no way to run a health-care system,” Crayton said.  “With this important change, veterans will finally not have to wait for what they have earned and deserve.”