March 24, 2015

Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Corrine Brown Passes Legislation to Improve Department of Veterans Affairs Budget Planning

Washington D.C.- Today on the House Floor, H.R. 216, introduced by House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member, Corrine Brown, a bill to Improve the Department of Veterans Affairs Budget Planning, passed the House of Representatives.  Upon passage, Congresswoman Brown made the following statement:

“I am extremely pleased that my bill, H.R. 216, passed the House of Representatives, and I urge its swift passage in the Senate.  Indeed, The Department of Veterans Affairs Budget Planning Reform Act of 2015, which creates a transparent mechanism to ensure that the VA is focusing on the needs of veterans today and into the future, is an extremely important piece of legislation. In essence, the bill would require the VA to annually provide a five-year budget plan (Future-Years Veterans Program) informed by a quadrennial review, which incorporates a comprehensive examination of the needs of veterans.”

Currently, the vast majority of VA’s budgetary resources are provided under an “advance appropriations” mechanism.  This requires the VA to estimate the demands it will face and the resources it will need many months before they are needed.  H.R. 216 will ensure that VA is better able to match estimates with demands and better able to meet the needs of veterans today, and tomorrow. 

Key Elements HR 216, the Future-Years Veterans Program

?   Beginning in FY 2020, VA would be required to annually submit a five-year budget plan matched to the VA’s current and projected needs and aligned with a carefully considered “plan of action.”

Quadrennial Veterans Review

?    To assist with the Future-Years Veterans Program, VA would undertake a Quadrennial Veterans Review every four years, beginning in FY 2019. 

This Quadrennial Veterans Review would be a comprehensive strategic examination of the opportunities, challenges, policies and strategies of the nation as they relate to veterans and would include veterans and experts to ensure that VA is working to solve problems before they happen.

      Policy Guidance

?    H.R. 216 requires the VA Secretary to provide annual policy guidance to ensure VA’s near-term budgets are aligned with VA’s longer-term strategic.