Senate Allocates $3.3B for IT in FY 2010 VA Appropriations Bill

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Thursday, November 19, 2009

Senate Allocates $3.3B for IT in FY 2010 VA Appropriations Bill

On Tuesday, the Senate approved a fiscal year 2010 appropriations bill for veterans programs and military construction programs that includes $3.3 billion for IT, the largest amount allocated for IT in the department's history, NextGov reports (Brewin, NextGov, 11/18).

The Senate unanimously approved the $134 billion spending measure (Taylor, AP/Google News, 11/18).

The appropriations bill's IT allocation includes:

$1.6 billion for existing programs;
$938.9 million for staff salaries and expenses; and
$800.5 million for new programs.

Developing a common electronic health and benefits record system for the departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense will be a key project (NextGov, 11/18). The Senate also adopted a floor amendment to the appropriations bill that calls on VA to study how it can improve its IT infrastructure to treat veterans using telemedicine systems (Brewin, "What's Brewin," NextGov, 11/18).

What Happens Next

The House's VA appropriations bill also includes $3.3 billion for IT. The two chambers' bills now go to a House-Senate conference to resolve the differences in the legislation (NextGov, 11/18).