20 , P.L. 110-5 ). The Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution provides $32.7 billion for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) for FY2007, a $14.7 million increase over the President's request and $3.3 billion above the FY2006 enacted amount (see Table 1 ). 5385 ). Background

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a range of benefits and services to veterans who meet certain eligibility rules, including disability compensation and pensions, education, training and rehabilitation services, hospital and medical care, home lone guarantees, and death benefits that cover burial expenses. VHA operates the nation's largest integrated direct health care delivery system. The House passed H.R. H.R. The Administration requested $32.7 billion for VHA, an 11.3% increase over the FY2006 enacted amount of $29.3 billion, and a 10% increase over FY2005 enacted amount of $29.7 billion (see Table 5 ). House Action

On May 10, 2006, the House Committee on Appropriations approved by voice vote its version of the Military Construction, Military Quality of Life, and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill (MilCon-Qual-appropriations bill) for FY2007 ( H.R. 5385 , H.Rept. 109-464 ). 5385 on May 19, 2006. 5385 provided $32.7 billion for VHA, a $3.4 billion (11.4%) increase over the FY2006 enacted amount of $29.3 billion, and about the same as the President's request. H.R. 5385 ; S.Rept. 109-286 ). On November 14, the Senate passed H.R. 5385 , as amended, by voice vote. Unlike the House-passed version of H.R. The MilCon-VA appropriations bill for FY2007 did not include any fee increases as requested by the Administration's budget proposal for VHA for FY2007, and the Senate Appropriations Committee strongly expressed its displeasure about the Administration's fee proposals:
The [VA] continues to assume congressional approval of its policy and legislative proposals before the Congress has done so.... Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2007

By the end of the 109 th Congress, Congress had not passed the MilCon-VA appropriations bill for FY2007 and funded most government agencies, including the VA, through a series of Continuing Appropriations Resolutions ( P.L. 110-5 provides $32.7 billion for VHA for FY2007. The President's budget request includes three major policy proposals:
assess an annual enrollment fee of $250 for all Priority 7 and 8 veterans; increase pharmaceutical copayments from $8 to $15 (for each 30-day prescription) for all enrolled veterans in Priority Groups 7 and 8; and bill veterans receiving treatment for nonservice-connected conditions for the entire copayment amount.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides benefits to veterans who meet certain eligibility rules. Benefits to veterans range from disability compensation and pensions to hospital and medical care. VA provides these benefits to veterans through three major operating units: the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), and the National Cemetery Administration (NCA). VHA is primarily a direct service provider of primary care, specialized care, and related medical and social support services to veterans through an integrated health care system.
The President's FY2007 budget proposal to Congress requested $32.7 billion for VHA, an 11.3% increase over the FY2006 enacted amount of $29.3 billion, and a 10% increase over the FY2005 enacted amount of $29.7 billion. As in previous budget proposals, the President's FY2007 budget request also includes a set of legislative proposals. The Administration is requesting authorization from Congress to assess an annual enrollment fee of $250 for all Priority 7 and 8 veterans, increase veterans' share of pharmaceutical copayments from $8 to $15 (for each 30-day prescription) for all enrolled veterans in Priority Groups 7 and 8, and bill veterans receiving treatment for nonservice-connected conditions for the entire copayment amount.
On May 19, 2006, the House passed the Military Construction, Military Quality of Life, and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill for FY2007 (H.R. 5385, H.Rept. 109-464). H.R. 5385 provides $32.7 billion for VHA for FY2007, an 11.4% increase over the FY2006 enacted amount. On November 14, the Senate passed its version of H.R. 5385 (S.Rept. 109-286). H.R. 5385, as amended by the Senate, provided $32.7 billion for VHA, about the same as the House-passed amount and the President's request. Neither version of H.R. 5385 included any provisions that would have given VA the authority to implement fee increases as requested by the President's FY2007 budget proposal. The 109th Congress did not enact H.R. 5385 and funded most federal government agencies through a series of Continuing Resolutions. The 110th Congress passed the Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2007 (H.J.Res. 20, P.L. 110-5) providing funding for the VHA for the rest of FY2007. P.L. 110-5 provides $32.7 billion for the VHA for FY2007, a $14.7 million increase over the President's request and $3.3 billion above the FY2006 enacted amount.
This report will not be updated.