LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing the United States Congress to pass
The Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009
(H.R. 1016 and S. 423)

WHEREAS, New Yorkers have served in the United States Armed Forces with
honor for many decades and upon discharge, many have used the 12 Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers in the State or the 47 VA
outpatient clinics in the State; and
WHEREAS, The Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act
(H.R. 1016 and S. 423) would require Congress to approve health care
funding for the VA a year in advance of the beginning of its fiscal
year; and
WHEREAS, The bill will guarantee no further delays in the VA health
care funding, and will break the cycle of perpetually late budgets that
has disrupted operations and delayed veterans' care in the nation's
largest health care system nineteen of the past twenty-two fiscal years;
and
WHEREAS, This legislation will reform the process in which the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration (VHA) medical
care funds are appropriated; the goal is to stabilize VA medical care
funding by providing sufficiency, timeliness, and predictability in VA's
appropriations process; and
WHEREAS, This legislation will provide this reform because Congress
will have to appropriate funds for the VHA accounts one year in advance
of the current fiscal year; this process is also known as 'advance
appropriations', a technique already used by Congress to secure funding
for certain government programs; and
WHEREAS, In this instance, the VA would have its VHA health care
accounts funded one year ahead of most other government programs, but
Congress still maintains its discretionary authority to approve and
oversee the use of these funds; and
WHEREAS, By having its discretionary appropriations decided one year
ahead of time, VHA accounts would be removed from current fiscal year
competition and the VA would have its health care funds available on
October 1 of every new fiscal year (there would have to be a one-time
two year appropriation process to get this cycle started); and
WHEREAS, Although the VA health care funding has increased in recent
years, it is still consistently late, often months late; and
WHEREAS, The legislation would deliver a budget to the VA that is
sufficient, timely and predictable, which would enable the VA to more
property and efficiently care for America's veterans past and present;
and
WHEREAS, The Partnership for Veterans Health Care Budget Reform worked
closely with the sponsors in drafting this key legislation; and
WHEREAS, H.R. 1016 and S. 423 is supported by the American Legion,
AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of
America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and
Vietnam Veterans of America; and
WHEREAS, In addition, if advance appropriations for the VA health care
are adopted by Congress, VHA administrators will known one year in
advance what their fiscal year appropriations will be and thus can plan
accordingly for delivering quality medical care services to all enrolled
veterans who need it; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Congress of the United States be and hereby is
respectfully memorialized by this Legislative Body to pass The Veterans
Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act (H.R. 1016 and S. 423);
and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the President of the Senate of the United States, the Speaker
of the House of Representatives, and to each member of the Congress of
the United States from the State of New York.