George W. Bush's position on

Veteran Benefits: An overhaul in funding of the Veterans Administration (VA) is necessary as countless veterans across the country are fighting to receive basic benefits and services. Service-connected disabled veterans are being denied access to healthcare because of income guidelines or cannot receive adequate healthcare because of antiquated VA facilities.

Description of candidate's position: Bush continues to supports an overhaul of funding for the VA to ensure that our nation's veterans are receiving proper healthcare, adequate compensation for defending our country, and additional prescription coverage. His FY 2005 budget proposes to increase funding to the Department of Veterans Affair to $68 billion, with $29.5 billion going to veteran healthcare. Bush website. Bush feels that mandatory funding for the VA will in the long run harm vets rather than help to provide sufficient benefits and services. American Legion website.

Quotation from the candidate: "What I'm telling you is, we are honoring our commitments to the veterans of the United States. That is a solemn pledge I made when I campaigned. And rather than some in Washington who are long on rhetoric, I want to be judged as a man who has had a solid record of achievement. And I look forward to continuing that record of achievement, to make sure the veterans budgets are funded well… to prioritize care, to make sure that those who truly hurt get the care they deserve; to make sure the plants and equipment are modern; to make sure that the VA adjusted to the demographic shifts which have taken place since the beginning of the VA". American Legion Magazine, June 16, 2004

Assessment of proposal:

Positive: On July 26, 2004, twenty-four Medal of Honor recipients signed an open letter supporting Bush's efforts in improving veteran benefits. "We have listened to Senator Kerry falsely attack President Bush for months over funding for veterans, and it's time to set the record straight. The truth is President Bush has led the way on improving veterans' benefits, supporting our troops and restoring honor and dignity to the White House. Since 2001, President Bush has increased veterans funding by over $20 billion, and funding for veterans' health care has increased by 40 percent since he took office. Funding for veterans has gone up twice as fast under President Bush as it did under President Clinton, and those who accuse the President of cutting funding are simply not being honest with veterans". Bush website. 

Negative: On March 23, 2004 the Independent Budget (IB) , a non-profit organization comprised of AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, issued a statement to the House of Representatives citing that, "despite an increase over the President's Budget request released in February, the budget resolution does not provide adequate funding for veterans' health care to meet the needs of sick and disabled veterans seeking care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health system. Last year, the Under Secretary for Health of the VA testified that the VA needs approximately 13 percent to 14 percent annually just to meet the costs of inflation and mandated salary increases. This budget does not even come close to meeting those needs. Paralyzed Veterans of America website.

Comparison: Bush agrees with Kerry in that an extensive overhaul of funding is necessary to sufficient provide benefits and services to America's veterans. Bush is opposed to mandatory funding for veteran benefits because he feels that in the long run it will cause more harm than help vets. Since in office, Bush had consistently increased funding for the VA, and has continued in his FY 2005 budget proposal of $68 billion to the Department of Veterans Affairs with $29.5 billion going to healthcare alone, which is a 40 percent larger than when he first came to office. Bush website.

Link to Kerry's Issue Brief.