House Approves FY 2004 VA-HUD
Appropriations
August 1, 2003 - The House of Representatives July
25 approved its version of the FY 2004 VA-HUD and Independent
Agencies Appropriations bill (H.R.
2861), providing a 2.7 percent increase for Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) research program, a 6.2 percent increase
for VA Medical Care, and a 6.2 percent increase for the National
Science Foundation (NSF). The Senate VA-HUD Subcommittee has
yet to mark up its version of the bill.
Specifically, the bill provides $408 million for VA research,
an increase of $10.6 million (2.7 percent). The accompanying
report (H. Rpt. 108-235) notes the committee's interest in
VA's shift of research priorities and asks the Secretary to
"submit an explanation of its research priorities for
medical and prosthetics research, including any changes in
relative priority of basic and clinical research in a report
due 90 days after enactment. The report should also explain
any changes to the peer review system used to evaluate research
proposals within the Medical Research Service."
For VA Medical Care, the House chose to alter the funding
structure slightly. The total amount allocated for Medical
Care is $26.8 billion, including a $1.5 billion offset from
the Medical Care Collections Fund, meaning an appropriated
level of $25.3 billion, approximately the same as the President's
budget, which is an increase of $1.5 billion (6.2 percent).
Specifically the House chose to divide medical care into four
categories: Medical Services for Priority 1-6 (service connected
health needs) veterans ($15.8 billion), Medical Services for
Priority 7-8 (non-service connected health needs) veterans
($1.9 billion), Medical Administration ($5.1 billion), and
Medical Facilities ($4 billion).
During floor debate of H.R. 2861, Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.)
successfully offered an amendment to reinstate funding for
four VA medical emergency preparedness centers authorized
under the Department of Veterans Affairs Emergency Preparedness
Act of 2002 (P.L.
107-287). The FY 2003 Omnibus Appropriations Act had prohibited
funds from being spent to establish the centers.
For the NSF, the subcommittee provided a total of $5.64 billion,
an increase of $329 million (6.2 percent) over FY 2003 funding.
This total includes $4.31 billion for NSF Research, an increase
of $250 million (6.2 percent).
Information:
Jonathan Fishburn, Director, Research, Education and Veterans' Legislative Affairs
AAMC Office of Governmental Relations
jfishburn@aamc.org
(202) 828-0525
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