WASHINGTON – Today, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee Member Congressman David G. Valadao (CA-22) joined Congressman Mike Garcia (CA-27), Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee Chairman Judge Carter (TX-31),  Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (OK-04), and House Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mike Bost (R-IL) to introduce the Veterans Benefits Continuity and Accountability Supplemental Appropriations Act. The bill addresses the $3 billion mandatory shortfall for disability and education benefits the VA expects to face by October. 

“Our veterans have made incredible sacrifices for our country, and we owe it to them to ensure they have access to the benefits they’ve earned,” said Congressman Valadao. “This bill addresses the immediate funding need at the VA, while also taking the necessary steps to ensure this kind of budget mismanagement doesn’t happen again. I’m proud to join my colleagues to ensure veterans across the Central Valley can continue to access their benefits. I’ll continue working to hold the VA accountable for our veterans.”

 “The Biden-Harris Administration's reckless mismanagement of the VA's budget has led to a crisis that puts veterans' benefits at risk. This isn't just about a funding shortfall—it's about holding the Administration accountable for its failures,” said Congressman Garcia. “We cannot simply throw more money at a broken system and enable further waste and mismanagement. My bill is focused on both ensuring our veterans receive the care they've earned and demanding accountability from those in charge. We need to fix what's broken, not just fund it, and make sure our heroes are never left behind by the failures of this Administration.”

“Our veterans defended our nation and values. They earned care and benefits through their service, and Congress won’t tolerate department mismanagement that threatens resources they rely on,” said Chairman Cole. “This shortfall is a glaring failure by the Biden-Harris Administration and its VA, marking one of the largest financial discrepancies in recent history. It also reflects a grave departure from their budget submission provided mere months ago. Our heroes deserve more than this incompetence. Through this bill, we ensure that promised benefits remain secure and enact needed oversight to guarantee full accountability and transparency.”

“We made a promise to America’s veterans, and this supplemental is Congress’ way of fulfilling that promise by ensuring they receive the benefits they’re owed. While House Republicans are going to do what’s necessary to take care of our heroes, I am gravely disappointed that the VA has irresponsibly put veterans in this position. The veterans’ benefits that are at risk with this shortfall are crucial to veterans’ livelihoods and the mismanagement by the VA is shameful,” Subcommittee Chairman Carter said. 

Chairman Bost said, “The VA budget is serious business that has a real impact on veterans’ lives. The Biden-Harris Administration has embarrassed themselves with how poorly they have mismanaged and run VA’s budget into the ground, resulting in a $15 billion dollar shortfall. That should have never happened, and the Biden-Harris VA must be held accountable. But time and time again, especially when it comes to the men and women who have served, House Republicans will always be there to clean up this Administration’s mess. I want to thank my friend and fellow veteran, Rep. Mike Garcia, for his leadership on this vitally important legislation to right the ship and ensure that veterans can continue to receive the benefits and services they have earned.”

Background:

The Department of Veteran Affairs’ (VA) failure to properly budget and account for enrollment growth and staffing costs in its budgetary process resulted in an unprecedented funding shortfall in veteran benefits for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2024 and into Fiscal Year 2025.

The House Appropriations Committee was notified of the potential shortfall in July - four months after the Biden-Harris Administration submitted its Budget Request and following the markup of FY25 legislation in both chambers of Congress. The VA’s updated projections indicated a need of approximately $15 billion above what was originally requested, including an additional $3 billion for the remainder of FY24 for Compensation and Pensions and Readjustment Benefits (mandatory funding) and an additional $12 billion for FY25 for VA medical care (discretionary funding).  

The Veterans Benefits Continuity and Accountability Supplemental Appropriations Act addresses the $3 billion shortfall in mandatory funding, which the Congressional Budget Office estimates would have no net budget effects. The bill also includes language that holds the Administration accountable, requiring a report to be submitted to Congress no later than 30 days after enactment as to why these budgetary errors took place and ways the VA is addressing its failure to accurately project needs and recurring reports on the status of funds of these accounts moving forward.

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