Secretary McDonough

Good morning, everyone. Carl Blake, thanks for that kind introduction. More importantly, thank you for your selfless service on behalf of your brothers- and sisters-in-arms.

Tod Lipka, thanks for that kind introduction and, more importantly, for your relentless work teaching any who doubt it that housing first works, that—as you’ve said—we solve homelessness by creating homes and helping people find belonging to a community.

Let me also acknowledge Reverend Franklyn Richardson, Chairman of NAN’s National Board of Directors. Reverend Franklyn answered the call to the ministry when he was just 18 years old, showing us how surrendering to something greater than ourselves is the first step in the long and righteous struggle for social justice and community empowerment.

Congressman Rogers, good morning. It’s a painful day for Kentucky, and our nation ... another mass shooting. Please accept my condolences. Know that our hearts go out to the families and friends of those lost, to those suffering, and to the heroic law enforcement officers injured or killed in the line of duty.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for joining us again today. I'll begin today's press conference with the ground rules. To our press in attendance, once I open the Q&A period, please raise your hand and wait for me to recognize you.

WASHINGTON - Today, the Department of Veterans Affairs announced an updated version of its 1959 mission statement. The new mission statement is: 'To fulfill President Lincoln's promise to care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.'

West Point was founded on March 16th, 1802, 221 years ago today. Sue Fulton represents West Point’s trailblazing class of 1980, the first to graduate women. Thank you for challenging me every day to do better for all Vets, and for leading the charge for today’s important event.

Remarks by Secretary McDonough at the Lake Nona Impact Forum.

This is the largest budget proposal in U.S. history for Veterans, their families, caregivers and survivors. The total FY 2024 request for VA is $325.1 billion, a $16.6 billion (+5.4%) increase above the FY 2023 budget enacted level. This includes a discretionary budget request of $142.8 billion, a $3.0 billion (+2.1%) increase over FY 2023. The 2024 mandatory funding request is $182.3 billion, an increase of $13.6 billion (+8.1%) above 2023.

We are happy to have Matt Rogers, National Clinical Resource Hub Director - Office of Primary Care, join us today. Matt will share VA's efforts to provide world-class services to Veterans through novel programs like CRH. Since there is much to discuss, I'll step aside and turn the floor over to Secretary McDonough.

These past two years, we have delivered more care and more benefits to more Vets than at any other time in our nation’s history; thanks to many people, including each and every one of you. We’re going to keep fighting like hell for Vets, together and for all Vets, to give them the best outcomes. And we’re looking forward to collaborating even more effectively, to build on what’s working, and to fix what’s not.

Our military, the strongest ever on the face of the planet, draws on the strength evident in all corners of our great country. Among the great sources of strength for our Active Duty Forces are rural communities.