On July 15, 2024, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) informed Congress that the department requires an additional $2.9 billion in mandatory funding to support veterans’ pensions and benefits for the remaining months of the current fiscal year. Unless Congress approves this needed funding by September 20th, roughly seven million veterans and their beneficiaries may not receive VA disability compensation and other benefits as scheduled on October 1st.

VA also needs an extra $12 billion in order to provide medical care for veterans in fiscal year 2025. This is on top of what has already been provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024, (P.L. 118-47) earlier this year, or projected allocations in the House and Senate’s fiscal 2025 Military Construction-VA bills.

Congress plans to address the funds needed for veterans' healthcare as part of the regular federal budget process, but they must act immediately to ensure VA disability compensation and other benefits are paid as scheduled on October 1st.

PVA's Position:

Congress must pass legislation such as H.R. 9468 or S. 4997 that would provide the funding for VA disability compensation and other benefits.