What $87 Billion Buys:

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.