In his 2011 budget, Obama says funding will support the Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record and will expand the Department of Veterans Affairs' services for veterans who are homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless.

Veterans Affairs has solicited vendors to coordinate pilot programs for the VA and the Department of Defense's Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record program. Federal Computer Week reports: "The VA has completed work on the first phase of the VLER program, its chief information officer, Roger Baker, said at a recent conference."

Congress approved $3.3 billion for Veterans Affairs to establish "electronic healthcare records, paperless claims systems and seamless integration of medical and service records with the Department of Defense" in the 2010 appropriations bill. The bill also gives the department $1.7 billion to hire 1,200 claims processors to help with the backlog and reduce processing time.

Shinseki's plan includes preventative measures such as support services for low-income families and an easier way for veterans to connect to local service providers. In addition, the plan would expand services for transitional and permanent housing, education, jobs and health care.

Obama unveiled his plan to create a Virtual Lifetime Electronic Record between the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs that would improve medical services and care to transitioning veterans. "The concept, long advocated by officials in both departments, is considered a major step toward improving the delivery of care and services to servicemembers transitioning from military to civilian life," the Armed Forces Press Service wrote.

Under Obama's budget outline, more resources would be allocated to ensure "effective implementation of the post-9/11 GI Bill."

The conference version of the stimulus bill expanded on the House version to include employers hiring veterans who were discharged or released from active duty within five years of the hiring date.

In the House-passed stimulus package, employers would get a tax credit for hiring veterans discharged in 2008, 2009 or 2010 who had received at least four weeks of unemployment compensation in the previous one-year period.

Veterans Affairs pick Eric Shinseki told a Senate panel during his confirmation hearing that this would be a priority, one that he would work on with Defense Secretary Robert Gates.