The Administration’s Fiscal 2008 budget request includes $86.75 billion for Veterans Affairs, the bulk of which would fund the department’s health care and disability compensation programs. The request provides $36.6 billion to cover health care for roughly 5.8 million patients and $4.6 billion for extended care services. The VA portion also includes nearly $3 billion to fund mental health services, especially for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. Read the highlights.
Amid NATO’s continued push to ramp up air defenses in Eastern Europe, Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall swung by seven allied countries to boost relations last week, including those on Russia’s and Ukraine’s doorstep.