[StBernard] Rep. Baker calls on Democratic leaders to pass Veterans spending bill before Veterans Day

[Westley Annis]

Rep. Baker calls on Democratic leaders to pass Veterans spending bill before Veterans Day   

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Richard Baker, R-Baton Rouge, today called on Democratic leaders in Congress to complete work on the fiscal year 2008 Veterans Appropriations bill.    

Rep. Baker, a senior Member of the House Veterans’ Committee, stated, “The FY08 VA budget as passed by both the House and Senate includes unprecedented funding for veterans’ health care and benefits programs.  The VA forgoes $18.5 million in funding for each day that this bill is not signed into law.  Millions of veterans depend on the services provided by the VA, and we do them a disservice by delaying much-needed additional funding for that department.   

“Democratic leadership has held up the veterans’ appropriations bill in an effort to gain leverage on other spending bills.  Washington politicians should not use veterans as pawns in a political game,” Baker continued.  “I urge Democratic leaders to do what is right for the men and women who have served our nation and complete the last steps on this important bill.”   

Fiscal year 2008 (FY08) began on October 1.  Until the Congress passes FY08 appropriations bills, federal spending is contained at FY07 levels.  The Military Construction-Veterans’ Affairs Appropriations Bill (H.R. 2642) passed the House of Representatives on June 15, 2007, by a 409-2 vote and passed the Senate on September 6, 2007, by a 92-1 vote.  The bill includes the highest level of funding for the VA in the history of the agency: $87.5 billion in total funding, including $43 billion in discretionary funding, which pays for veterans’ health care programs.  In early October, the Senate appointed conferees and House Republican Leader John Boehner named six House Republicans to serve on the House-Senate conference committee charged with completing work on H.R. 2642.  House Democratic leaders have yet to appoint their conferees.   

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For more news about Congressman Baker, please visit 

www.baker.house.gov <http://www.baker.house.gov/>