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Ryan Opposed Veterans Health Care Funds.
In 2007, Ryan voted against legislation that provided critical funding for veterans health care, including funds to enhance medical services for active duty forces, mobilized personnel and their family members and $1.7 billion for veterans’ health care priorities including maintenance at VA health care facilities like Walter Reed.
The measure included: $550 million to address the maintenance backlog at VA health care facilities to prevent situations similar to those at Walter Reed;
$250 million for medical administration to ensure sufficient personnel to address the rising number of veterans and to maintain a high level of service;
$229 million for treating the growing number of veterans;
$100 million to allow the VA to contract with private mental healthcare providers to offer veterans, including Guard and reserve members, quality and timely care; and,
$62 million to speed claims processing for returning veterans.
The measure passed 218-212 [ Roll Call 186, H 1591, 03/23/2007;CQ House Action Reports, No. 110-3]
Ryan Supported FY 2005 Budget Trashed by Veterans’ Groups.
In 2004, Ryan voted in favor of a budget that wasstrongly opposed by major veterans' organizations.
A coalition of veterans groups, including the AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States was vehemently opposed to the bill.
“Passage of the budget resolution, as presented, would be a disservice to those men and women who haveserved this country and who are currently serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world in our fight against terrorism,” the groups said.
The budget resolution passed 215-212[ Roll Call 92, S 393, 03/25/2004;Letter to Members, 3/23/04]
Ryan Opposed Motion To Allow Veterans With Service-Related Disabilities And 20 Years’ Honorable Service To Receive Full Disability Benefits And Full Retirement Pay.
According to the Saint Paul Pioneer Press, “Voting 188 for and 217 against, the House defeated a Democratic bid to allow veterans with a service-related disability and at least 20 years’ honorable service to receive full disability benefits as well as full retirement pay. At present, most veterans must deduct disability income from retirement pay in a subtraction known as the ‘disabled veterans tax.’ The motion was offered to the defense bill above, which already included GOP language phasing out the ‘tax’ for about one-third of affected veterans.
If not offset elsewhere in the budget, the Democratic motion would add over $50 billion to the national debt over 10 years. A yes vote backed full, dual benefits.”
Ryan voted no.
[Saint Paul Pioneer Press, 11/9/03]
Ryan Voted to Cut Funding for Veterans' Programs, Impose Enrollment Fees.
In 2003, Ryan voted for a budget that called for cutting $15 billion from veterans’ benefits, including veterans’ pensions, compensation, education and other benefits, over 10 years.
The Disabled Veterans of America strongly opposed the budget, sending a letter to all members of Congress “to communicate our deep-seated outrage regarding the fiscal year 2004 budget adopted by the House Budget Committee, which would cut veterans’ programs by more than $15 billion during the next 10 years.
”The GOP budget also included the President’s proposal to impose a $250 fee for enrollment in VA health care for category 7 and 8 veterans, along with a doubling of the drug co-payment for those veterans.
The budget passed 215-212[ Roll Call 82, S 95, 03/21/2003;Letter from Edward R. Heath, National Commander, Disabled Veterans of America, 3/17/03]
Paul Ryan Voted to Cut Funding for Veterans Benefits By $25 Billion, Imposed Enrollment Fees.
In 2003, Paul Ryan voted for a budget that called for cutting $25 billion from veterans’ benefits, including veterans’ pensions, compensation, education and other benefits, over 10 years.
The Disabled Veterans of America strongly opposed the budget, sending a letter to all members of Congress, “to communicate our deep-seated outrage regarding the fiscal year 2004 budget adopted by the House Budget Committee, which would cut veterans programs by more than $15 billion during the next 10 years. "
The GOP budget also included the President Bush's proposal to impose a $250 fee for enrollment in VA health care for category 7 and 8 veterans, along with a doubling of the drug co-payment for those veterans.
The budget passed 215-212
[ Roll Call 82, S 95,03/21/2003; Letter from Edward R. Heath, National Commander, Disabled Veterans of America, 3/17/03]
Funding
Ryan Voted Against Spending an Additional $20 Million to Prevent Suicides by Combat Veterans.
In June 2011, Ryan voted against a motion to recommit the Fiscal 2012 Military Construction-VA Appropriations bill with instructions that it be reported back with an amendment to increase funding for veterans medical services for PTSD and suicide prevention by $20 million.
The funds would advertise suicide-prevention assistance and services for veterans.
The $20 million would be offset by reducing funding for the Department of Veteran Affairs information technology program by $25 million.
The motion to recommit failed, 184 to 234.[ Roll Call 417, H 2055, 06/14/2011;Virginian-Pilot, 6/20/11]
Ryan Opposed New GI Bill.
In 2008, Ryan voted against an amendment that would create an expanded educational benefit for veterans, imposing a surtax on the very wealthy to offset the costs of the new veterans’ program and suspend implementation of seven Bush administration Medicaid regulations.
The amendment appropriated $21.2 billion for domestic programs, military construction and foreign aid programs. It would provide $4.6 billion for military construction and $5.8 billion for levee building in Louisiana. The amendment would provide a permanent expansion of education benefits for post-Sept. 11 veterans, offset with 0.47 percent surtax on modified adjusted gross income above $500,000 per year for individuals and $1 million for couples. It also would temporarily extend unemployment insurance benefits and place a moratorium through March 2009 on seven Medicaid regulations proposed by the administration. It would appropriate $9.9 billion for The State Department, USAID and international food assistance. The amendment passed 256-166[ Roll Call 330, H 2642,05/15/2008;Congressional Quarterly, Congressional Quarterly Weekly, 5/16/08]
