Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research Coalition Sign-On Letter

Dear Chairwoman DeLauro, Ranking Member Granger, Chairman Leahy, and Vice Chairman Shelby:

"Thank you for your work in leading your committees’ efforts in proposing increases for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical and Prosthetic Research program for fiscal year (FY) 2022. The 88 undersigned members of the Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research (FOVA) coalition write to urge swift enactment of FY 2022 appropriations to ensure continuation of the best medical research and clinical care for our veterans. FOVA was founded over 30 years ago to ensure that America’s veterans receive high-quality health care. Today, FOVA is a diverse coalition representing nearly 100 national academic, medical, and scientific societies; voluntary health and patient advocacy groups; and veteran-focused associations that work in concert with the Independent Budget veterans service organizations to advocate for continued, necessary funding for the research and health programs that serve the nation’s veterans.

FOVA is appreciative of the bipartisan funding increases Congress has provided for the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research program in recent years, allowing VA to expand and excel in developing innovative treatments and diagnostics and to use cutting edge technology to care for veterans. To continue this momentum, we urge swift approval of the House-passed funding level of $904 million for the VA research program for FY 2022, a funding level in line with FOVA’s FY 2022 recommendation. We hope the final spending bill will reflect this continued commitment to the VA research program at this critical time."

Read the Full Letter