House Republicans propose emergency funding bill to help fix VA's $3 billion budget shortfall

A group of House Republicans on Friday unveiled an emergency funding plan that would help the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) with its $3 billion shortfall in its fiscal year 2024 budget.

The VA said it is facing a cash flow problem because of the 2022 PACT Act, which led to an increase in enrollments for the VA's healthcare system, appointments, and applications. The VA has asked Congress to supply nearly $3 billion in mandatory benefits funds for the current fiscal year, and for an additional $12 billion for fiscal year 2025. 

Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee and House Veterans’ Affairs Committee unveiled the new plan, named the "Veterans Benefits Continuity and Accountability Supplemental Appropriations Act," according to The Hill.

The five-page legislation would send nearly $3 billion to the VA, $2.3 of which would go to the Veterans Benefits Administration to pay for pensions and compensation. The other $597 million would be for readjustment benefits.

“My bill is focused on both ensuring our veterans receive the care they’ve earned and demanding accountability from those in charge,” California GOP Rep. Mike Garcia, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said in a statement. “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.”

The bill also instructs the VA's office of the Inspector General to investigate the circumstances around the budget shortfall.

The lawmakers did not lay out a timeline of when the legislation would be voted on, but it comes as Congress braces for a possible partial government shutdown next month. Congress needs to approve nine funding bills or a Continuing Resolution in order to avoid the shutdown. 

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.