Ranking Member Takano Applauds President for Signing Veterans’ Benefits Funding, Urges Swift Action on Healthcare Funding

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) applauded President Joe Biden for quickly signing a bill that will provide the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) with the necessary funding to continue administering veteran disability and education benefits in October.  

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) told the Committee that due to the successful accelerated implementation of the Honoring our PACT Act, more veterans than ever are receiving VA benefits. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is also facing a shortfall as the result of hundreds of thousands of veterans enrolling in and using VA healthcare since the PACT Act became law.  

Ranking Member Takano said, “I applaud the Senate for getting this bill to the President’s desk quickly and thank President Biden for signing it. It would have been unconscionable for veterans to not receive their benefits on time. In the two years since my Honoring our PACT Act was signed into law by President Biden, almost 1.2 million veterans and survivors have been granted disability benefits or received higher disability ratings. This is good news! It means veterans are getting the benefits they are owed. 

“Now we need to turn our attention to VHA’s budget shortfall and ensure that VA has the staff and resources it needs to provide these veterans with world-class healthcare they have earned. Time is quickly running out, while House Republicans waste precious time inserting culture war messaging bills into must-pass appropriations legislation. We need to end the uncertainty and brinksmanship and get VHA every dollar it needs for fiscal year 2025.”

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