VA gets $3.7 billion to hire more caseworkers

VA gets $3.7 billion to hire more caseworkers
By Kelly Kennedy - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jan 18, 2008 5:46:58 EST

President Bush signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2008 on Thursday, handing over an extra $3.7 billion to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Bush had to sign the act by Jan. 18, or VA would have lost the promised extra funding, which will be used to hire and train people to process the backlog of more than 600,000 benefits claims, said Dave Autry, spokesman for Disabled American Veterans. Some of the money also will go toward medical research for conditions such as traumatic brain injuries.

DAV and nine other veterans service organizations began a letter-writing campaign last week calling on veterans to urge Bush to sign the act in time for VA to get the extra money.

“For 5.8 million veterans, this new funding means more qualified doctors and nurses to improve medical services,” Rep. Chet Edwards, D-Texas, said in a statement.

Edwards chairs the House Appropriations subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/01/military_vafunding_080117w/



uhc comment: Hmmm.

The Veterans Administration received $3,700,000,000 to care for veterans.
bushCo received $196,000,000,000 (or so) to to make more injured veterans.