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Senate panel OKs VA advance funding for 2011

Advanced funding for the Veterans Affairs Department moved a big step forward Monday night, when a Senate subcommittee working on the 2010 budget agreed to set aside $48 billion for 2011 veterans’ health care costs.

Action by the Senate Appropriations subcommittee on military construction and veterans programs is the latest step in the legislative process leading to the creation of a safety net for veterans programs if Congress doesn’t approve the fiscal-year budget on time.

Advance funding is the top legislative priority for major veterans service organizations, and has the backing of President Barack Obama and congressional leaders. The only stumbling block seems to be working out final details, like how much money needs to be set aside to cover a budget one year in advance, including cost estimates and a procedure for making adjustments if the estimates are wrong.

The Senate subcommittee, chaired by Sen. Tim Johnson, D-S.D., approved a $133.8 billion funding bill on Monday, including $23 billion for military construction, $53 billion for veterans’ health care and administrative programs and $55.8 billion in mandatory spending, such as veterans’ benefits. The 2010 spending is about $440 million more than the Obama administration had requested.

“We have done our best to address both the needs of the military and our veterans in this legislation,” Johnson said in a statement. “I remain committed to keeping our promises to our veterans and honoring them by ensuring they receive the care they deserve and require.”

Advanced funding includes $37.1 billion for medical services, $5.7 billion for medical facilities and $5.3 billion for medical support, money that would become available on Oct. 1, 2010, which is the first day of fiscal 2011.

The House version of the 2010 veterans funding bill includes a placeholder for a 2011 advanced appropriations but does not provide a specific number while waiting on the Obama administration to make 2011 budget estimates.