CONGRESS FOR VOTERS

DemocratAmendment · S.Amdt. 1723· Senate(119-SAMDT-1723)

S.Amdt. 1723

Rep. Luján
Age: 54 years
New Mexico
Introduced
4/3/2025
Sponsored by
Ben Luján
Cosponsors
None
Changes bill
119-HCONRES-14 — Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034.
  1. Introduced
  2. Pending Consideration

What this amendment would do

This amendment, submitted by Mr. Lujan, wants to keep our elected officials and government agencies accountable by making sure we know the true cost of cutting staff at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It directs the Congressional Budget Office to put together a detailed analysis looking at how cutting the VA workforce impacts veterans, their families, and their caregivers.

What Is Added to the Bill

The amendment adds a requirement for a comprehensive report that covers several key areas:

  • An assessment of the financial impacts on veterans, including out-of-pocket costs, lost wages from delayed services, and health care burdens.
  • An evaluation of how workforce cuts affect appointment wait times, specialty care, and emergency services.
  • An estimate of delays in processing veterans benefits claims and appeals, which can cause financial instability.
  • An analysis of the specific effects on rural and underserved veterans.
  • An estimate of potential increased Federal costs, like higher Medicaid enrollment, mental health crises, and long-term disability claims.

The Congressional Budget Office must finish this report within 180 days of the resolution being adopted, submit it directly to Congress, and make it available to the public.