WASHINGTON – To expand health care to a record-number of Veterans, reduce the number of homeless Veterans and process a dramatically increased number of new disability compensation claims, the White House has announced a proposed $125 billion budget next year for the Department of Veterans Affairs. The $125 billion budget request, which has to be approved by Congress, includes $60.3 billion for discretionary spending (mostly health care) and $64.7 billion in mandatory funding (mostly for disability compensation and pensions).

“VA’s 2011 budget request covers many areas but focuses on three central issues that are of critical importance to our Veterans – easier access to benefits and services, faster disability claims decisions, and ending the downward spiral that results in Veterans’ homelessness,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki.

Some highlights from the proposed budget:

- Increasing by $460 million the budget to higher an additional 4,000 claims processors for Veterans benefits.

- $44 million to develop and implement by December 2010 an automated system for processing Post-9/11 GI Bill applications.

- In an effort to combat Veteran homelessness, the budget proposal includes $4.2 billion for core medical services and specific homeless Veteran programs and initiatives.

- The proposal seeks $5.2 billion for mental health, enabling the expansion of inpatient, residential and outpatient mental health services. Additionally, funding will allow for continued expansion of programs for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Shinseki called PTSD treatment “central to VA’s mission.”

- The budget also provides for $217.6 million to meet gender-specific health care needs of women Veterans. That represents nearly a 10% increase over the previous years budget.

To view the full press release with more detailed breakdown of spending please view the full VA press release here.