Legion joins with other VSOs in calling for Congress to immediately fund $15-billion VA budget shortfall

Multiple veterans service organizations, including representatives from The American Legion, gathered in the nation’s capital Wednesday to draw attention to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ massive budget shortfall and call on Congress to pass before Sept. 20 supplemental legislation in what is expected to be a government budget stopgap continuing resolution.

Earlier this week, Military.com reported that in addition to a $3 billion shortfall for the rest of the year, VA officials have confirmed they are asking Congress “to include an extra $12 billion for the department's 2025 medical budget in the upcoming stopgap spending measure –  which must be passed into law by the end of the month – to ensure outreach to veterans and growth of the system can continue apace without compromising wait times and staffing levels.”

The Legion joined with Veterans of Foreign Wars, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Student Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, TAPS, Military Officer Association of America and Wounded Warrior Project during a press conference in Washington, D.C., to call for immediate passage of supplemental funding legislation authored by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and U.S. Rep. Mike Garcia.

“This financial crisis will affect disability compensation, caregiver compensation, community care payouts, everything,” American Legion Legislative Director Julia Mathis said. “We’re calling on Congress to immediately pass the legislation offered up by Senator Brown and Congressman Garcia. Every day we get closer to September 20 is another 24 hours of uncertainty for thousands of veterans whose financial lives depend on it.

“Every member of Congress has a moral obligation to protect these crucial benefits that our nation’s veterans have earned through their service to our great nation.”

Mathis noted that delays in compensation payments could have a domino effect on veterans and their families. “I have heard the concerns and felt the anxiety from many American Legion members over the announced budget shortages,” she said. “Many veterans and caregivers rely on these compensations to keep them from going off a financial cliff. With benefit payments at risk, the mental health implications are very concerning. Just imagine being a veteran who lives paycheck to paycheck and being notified by the VA that your compensation is going to be delayed in October due to these shortfalls. Imagine telling your children you can't buy them school clothes or talking with your spouse about which bills you can afford to pay this month , or facing possibly eviction from your home.

“The mental stress brought on by these situations could lead some veterans into depression or hopelessness, even to the brink of suicide.” 

Mathis said two American Legion programs are designed specifically to help veterans who are dealing with those feelings.

“For moments like this, I thank God that The American Legion has the Be the One mission and the Buddy Check program,” she said. “The American Legion’s Be the One mission focuses on destigmatizing mental health treatment, encouraging connections, making it OK to say you're not OK and empowering everyone to intervene to save the life of a veteran in crisis.  

“That ties in with the concept of the Buddy Checks, which The American Legion pioneered in 2019. I am grateful that the VA is conducting National Buddy Check Week in October. Let’s remember that anyone can do a Buddy Check at any time. You can do this with a simple call to check on a veteran, make sure they are OK and offer to assist them with anything they need.” 

The American Legion also joined with multiple other VSOs in sending a letter to Congressional leadership, urging Congress “to act swiftly to approve the necessary funding so there is no gap in either benefits or needed health care.” Read the entire letter here.  

Legionnaires can let Congress know that veterans’ benefits are not up for debate by using our Grassroots Action Center to urge support for this critical legislation.