House Approves Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Funding Bill
First bill of fiscal year 2017 cycle provides funding for defense infrastructure and quality-of-life programs for our troops and their families, robust support for veterans programs
Washington,
May 19, 2016 -
The U.S. House today approved the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill (H.R.4974) on a bipartisan vote of 295-129.
The legislation contains $81.6 billion in funding – $1.8 billion above the fiscal year 2016 level – to house, train, and equip military personnel, to provide housing and services to military families, to maintain base infrastructure, and to support veterans’ benefits and programs. Of this funding, $63.3 billion was provided via an advance in the fiscal year 2016 appropriations bill last year.
Within this total, $73.5 billion is provided for the Department of Veterans Affairs – a 3 percent increase above fiscal year 2016 levels – including additional funding to address management problems and health care shortages, and to increase the speed, efficiency and effectiveness of its services to veterans.
Military construction totals $7.9 billion, $250 million above the President’s request, to fund family housing, construction of hospitals and health facilities, and support for critical overseas investments.
Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers made the following statement on the legislation today:
“We have made a commitment to our servicemen and women that we will care for them during and after their service, and this bill helps fulfill that promise. This bill also takes many steps to ensure that every cent of taxpayer money is spent responsibly and with good purpose.
“Shepherding through appropriations legislation is the constitutional duty of the Congress. Passage of these bills in a timely fashion is in the best interest of this nation.”
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