WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama requested $54.9 billion in funding for the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) for fiscal year 2012 and $56.7 billion for fiscal year 2013, according to a report released by the Government Accountability Office this week.

VA officials said the new budget estimate was increased overall by about $1.4 billion for fiscal year 2012 and $1.3 billion for fiscal year 2013 to support healthcare-related initiatives proposed by the Obama administration, such as expanding homeless veterans programs, opening new healthcare facilities, offering additional services for caregivers and providing benefits for veterans exposed to Agent Orange.

[See also: VA healthcare to benefit from Obama budget.]

The president’s request for fiscal year 2012 also included about $953 million in contingency funding to provide additional resources in the event that the downturned economy results in increased use of VA healthcare.

The president’s request for appropriations for VA healthcare relied on anticipated funding from several sources, including collections, unobligated balances of multiyear appropriations and reimbursements.

VA officials identified changes made to its estimate of the resources needed to provide healthcare services to reflect policy decisions, savings from operational improvements, resource needs for initiatives and other items to help develop the president’s budget request.

The VA operates 152 hospitals, 133 nursing homes, 824 community-based outpatient clinics and other facilities to provide care to veterans.