Senate Adds $1.5 Billion for Veterans’ Healthcare

The Senate voted Wednesday to spend an extra $1.5 billion on veterans’ healthcare this year as the Bush administration indicated it would ask Congress for more money to cover a politically embarrassing shortfall.

The 96-0 vote was a response to the Veterans Affairs Department’s announcement last week that its healthcare costs had risen faster than expected, forcing the agency to shift money among accounts to cover the shortage.

Congressional Democrats have demanded that majority Republicans provide sufficient funds to take care of veterans who are returning from wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“This is just the latest example of how poorly the administration planned for and prepared this nation for what would be required in Iraq and the war on terror,” said Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

The administration’s formal request to lawmakers could come today. Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson was to appear on Capitol Hill to give Congress a more precise accounting of healthcare needs.

The Senate, unwilling to await the expected funding request, added its $1.5 billion proposal to a spending bill for the budget year that begins Oct. 1.

“It was a frustration to me and an embarrassment,” said Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Larry E. Craig (R-Idaho).

House Republicans said they would wait for more details from the administration.

House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Stephen E. Buyer (R-Ind.) said a spending bill could move ahead this week.

It was unclear how the Republicans would fit the money into the budget, but they vowed to find a way.