(Updated May 18, 2006)
H.R. 5385
Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year
2007
Floor Situation
The House is scheduled to consider H.R. 5385, pursuant to a rule, on Friday, May 19, 2006.
On
Thursday, May 18, 2006 the Rules Committee granted an open rule that:
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Provides one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the
Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on Appropriations.
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Waives all points of order against consideration of the bill.
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Under the rules of the House the bill shall be read for amendment by
paragraph.
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Waives all points of order against provisions in the bill for failure to
comply with clause 2 of rule XXI (prohibiting unauthorized appropriations or
legislative provisions in an appropriations bill), except as specified in
the resolution.
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Authorizes the Chair to accord priority in recognition to Members who have
pre-printed their amendments in the Congressional Record.
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Provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.
Summary
FY 2006
Appropriation $85.0 billion (+$37.2 billion Mandatory)
President’s FY 2007 Request $95.5 billion (+$41.4 billion Mandatory)
FY 2007 bill $94.7 billion (+$41.4 billion
Mandatory)
HIGHLIGHTS
Veterans Medical
Care and Benefits:
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Providing historic levels
of funding for Veterans Medical Services:
The committee for the first time ever used the Veterans Service
Organization’s Independent Budget as the base-line for FY 2007 funding. The
committee adopted the veterans groups’ recommendations to increase funds by
6.3% to accommodate the spike in veterans returning from the conflicts in
Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, the committee increases resources for
mental health services, prosthetics and dental care. Total funding is
$25,412,000,000, $2.6 billion above last year’s level and $100 million
below the President’s request.
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Improving Administration
of Care:
$100 million was shifted from Medical Services to Medical
Administration to ensure that care is being administered effectively and to
help avoid potential shortfalls in funding. The bill also increases
resources by $45 million to support information technology initiatives which
would ensure continuity of operations and consolidate overlapping functions
thus decreasing operating costs.
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Proposed Fees for
Veterans:
Does not contain additional fees as proposed in the
Administration’s request.
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Expanding Community-Based
Outpatient Clinics:
The bill increases resources by $25 million to open a minimum of 10 clinics
in fiscal year 2007. These clinics are popular with veterans because they
provide more convenient care than traditional large hospital facilities.
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Improving State Veteran’s
Homes:
The bill increases resources by $20 million over last year’s level and the
request to make facility improvements in existing state veteran’s homes.
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Supporting Medical
Research:
The bill increases funds by $13 million for basic research
for a total of $412 million. In addition, $12 million was added to start
upgrading VA medical research facilities nationwide.
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Mandatory Veteran’s
Benefits
are increased $4.2 billion over last year.
Military
Construction:
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Total military
construction funding is $6.6 billion, $5.6 billion for active duty
construction and $1.0 billion for reserve components.
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$4.0 billion for family
housing construction and operations to continue the goal of providing
adequate housing for our service-members and their families.
Defense Health:
The defense
health program is increased by $1 billion over last year. Total funding is $21
billion, the same as the budget request.
BRAC:
Base realignment
and closure activities are funded at $5.5 billion. These funds are for the
implementation and administration of the current and prior rounds of BRAC
activities.
War Contingency
Reserve Fund:
The bill includes $500 million from $50 billion war reserve to
fund urgent, war-related military construction projects requested by the
President.
Section by Section
Military Quality of Life and Veterans
Affairs Appropriations Table
Amendments to Be Made in Order on Friday, May 19, 2004
Reps.
Blumenauer/Brown-Waite
may offer an amendment on
Friday, May 19, 2006. The amendment adds $77.5 million dollars to clean-up UXO
on closed military bases, with an offset coming from the BRAC 2005 account.
Contact: 5-4811
(Judah Ariel - Blumenauer)
Rep. Tiahrt
may offer an amendment on Friday, May 19, 2006.
The amendment prohibits agencies from using funds in the bill to develop or
implement regulations without taking into consideration the effect such
regulations would have on the competitiveness of U.S. businesses. Contact:
5-6216. (AmyClaire
Brusch)
Legislative History
H.R. 5385 was introduced by Rep. Walsh
(NY)
on May 15, 2006. The bill was reported from the
Appropriations Committee, as an original measure and House Report
109-464 was filed. House Report
109-464, Part II was filed on May 16, 2006.
For additional information or
questions, please contact the
Appropriations Committee at 5-2771.