Slideshow

1 of 3

United States President George W. Bush (L) speaks about the recently released United States budget for fiscal year 2009 after meeting with his cabinet in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington on February 4, 2008. The 3 Trillion dollar budget features an approximate 400 billion dollar deficit of which his 145 billion dollar economic stimulus plan is a part. Bush was joined by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. (UPI Photo/Ron Sachs/Pool)

The VA budget, unveiled Tuesday, seeks $41.2 billion for medical care, which Bush said was more than double the amount the department received when Bush took office.

Picking up themes from his State of the Union Address last week, Bush said the administration also would seek enactment of commission recommendations, including modernizing of disability compensation systems, expanding treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder and strengthening support for families.

The bipartisan commission, headed by former Sen. Bob Dole and former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, examined the level of care soldiers received at the nation's veterans' hospitals after reports of substandard care surfaced.