Wichita Standard

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (Kan.), ranking member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, issued a statement in response to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announcing a budget shortfall of nearly $15 billion.

"We need to make sure veterans receive the health care and benefits they need, and Congress has consistently provided for that," stated Moran.

He criticized the Biden administration for not accounting for the budget shortfall when preparing and presenting the President’s budget request. "The Biden administration failed to account for this budget shortfall when preparing and presenting the President’s budget request. Instead, the White House and VA withheld this information for months."

Moran emphasized that moving forward, the administration must address this issue with Congress, veterans, and the American people. "This administration must answer to Congress, veterans, and the American people for this failure and for putting the health care and benefits for veterans and survivors at risk."