APA Testimony on Fiscal Year 2007 Appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs

Oral Testimony of Steven Breckler, PhD
On behalf of the American Psychological Association

Submitted March 1, 2006 to the
United States House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations
Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs
The Honorable James T. Walsh, Chair

Fiscal Year 2007 Appropriations for the Department of Veterans Affairs

Thank you Mr. Chairman and Members of the Subcommittee, I am Dr. Steven Breckler, Executive Director for Science at the American Psychological Association - APA - a scientific and professional organization of more than 150,000 psychologists and affiliates. Many of these psychologists work within the VA as research scientists and clinicians committed to improving the lives of our nation's veterans - those who have "borne the battle."

Let me first thank you and your colleagues in the Senate for significantly expanding the mental health research budget within the VA in FY06. This will be of vital importance in assessing and meeting the mental health needs of veterans. A strong VA psychological research program provides the base for high-quality care within the VA system.

In particular, we are pleased to see the mandate for a comprehensive study of Post-traumatic Stress Disorder, or "PTSD," and other mental health issues in the FY06 legislation. Given psychologists' unique methodological and content expertise in the area of PTSD, we expect psychological scientists to be integral in the design, implementation and analysis phases of the comprehensive PTSD study. Of course VA psychologists conduct research in all areas of health, including other high-priority areas particularly relevant to veterans, such as substance abuse, aging-related disorders, chronic pain, and physical and psychosocial rehabilitation. We urge you to continue your strong support of funding for this research in FY07.

Psychological research is just one of many areas of research supported by the VA's Medical and Prosthetic Research Account, where investments in research have led to an explosion of knowledge that has advanced our understanding of disease and unlocked new strategies for prevention, treatment and cures. Despite strong Congressional support for the overall VA research program last year, the President has again proposed a budget in FY07 that would cut the Medical and Prosthetic Research Account (from $412 million enacted in FY06 to $399 million).

The VA anticipates that this $13 million (or 3.2%) cut would result in the elimination of 286 research employee positions, 82 investigator-initiated research programs, 15 special research initiatives, and seven multi-site research projects. A proposed increase of $13 million in the medical care support budget line would not in fact offset the proposed cut to direct research funding - this medical care support allocation does not support research projects. Similarly, the President's budget includes projected increases in non-VA lines of research support, despite a flat budget request for NIH, the main source of outside funding.

APA joins the Friends of VA Medical Care and Health Research coalition, a group of over 50 organizations concerned about veterans' health, in recommending that Congress reverse the President's proposed cut and provide $460 million for the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research Account in FY07.

Beyond research, APA appreciates the President's recognition of the need to increase mental health funding in the overall FY 2007 budget. We urge the Administration to work with Congress to ensure that mental health care funding for veterans in particular is adequate, in light of the mental health needs of returning servicemembers from Iraq and Afghanistan. Already, members of the House Veterans' Affairs committee are providing bipartisan recognition that funding must be available to meet the mental and physical health needs of these soldiers. We look forward to working with the Administration and Congress in the coming months in this effort.

Thank you and I'm happy to take any questions you may have.