House Republicans on Friday unveiled an emergency funding plan to address a $3 billion budget shortfall within the Department of Veteran Affairs, reported The Hill.
The Veterans Benefits Continuity and Accountability Supplemental Appropriations Act, introduced by Rep. Mike Garcia, R-Calif., would "ensure veteran benefits remain uninterrupted and hold the Administration accountable for its egregious budgeting errors," according to a press release.
"My bill is focused on both ensuring our veterans receive the care they've earned and demanding accountability from those in charge," 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 would also require a report to be submitted to Congress no later than 30 days after enactment "as to why these budgetary errors took place and ways the VA is addressing its failure to accurately project needs and recurring reports on the status of funds of these accounts moving forward."
Garcia said the Biden-Harris administration's "reckless mismanagement of the VA's budget" led to a crisis "that puts veterans' benefits at risk."
"This isn't just about a funding shortfall — it's about holding the administration accountable for its failures. We cannot simply throw more money at a broken system and enable further waste and mismanagement," he added.
House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla.; Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee Chairman Judge Carter, R-Texas; Defense Subcommittee Chairman Ken Calvert, R-Calif.; Legislative Branch Subcommittee Chairman David Valadao, R-Calif.; and House Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mike Bost, R-Ill., joined Garcia in introducing the legislation.
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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