The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) directly touches the lives of millions of veterans every day through its health care, benefits, and burial programs. The FY 2001 Performance Plan describes how VA will fulfill its obligations to provide high-quality service and to deliver benefits to veterans in a way that satisfies the American public’s commitment to honor veterans’ service and to compensate them for their sacrifices.

The FY 2001 Performance Plan is based on new strategic goals and objectives recently adopted by the Department. The Performance Plan presents the performance targets VA is striving to achieve as a means of bringing us closer to accomplishing our strategic goals and objectives.

During our "Conversations with America," we heard four basic themes that are incorporated throughout this plan. The themes are:

• Enhance the delivery of health care;
• Expedite and improve the adjudication of compensation claims;
• Explore more partnerships with stakeholders; and
• Encourage and promote both organizational and employee accountability.

This document provides a synopsis of the more detailed planning, performance, and resource information, presented in an integrated fashion throughout Volume 2 (Medical Programs) and Volume 4 (General Operating Expenses) of our budget submission. Taken together, the Performance Plan and the individual budget volumes present a comprehensive picture of what VA is striving to achieve, how we propose to measure our progress, and the resources required for accomplishing our strategic goals and objectives.