Appropriations Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2023 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Funding Bill

The House Appropriations Committee today approved the fiscal year 2023 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies bill on a 32 to 26 vote.

In total, the bill provides $314.1 billion, an increase of $29.5 billion – more than 10 percent – above 2022. Of this amount, discretionary funding for programs such as veterans’ health care and military construction totals $150.5 billion, an increase of $23 billion above 2022. The legislation:

• Supports our veterans with investments in health care, including targeted investments that advance women's health, mental health, and homelessness assistance
• Rebuilds our infrastructure with strong investments to construct critical facilities on military installations, including family housing and childcare centers, and build, repair, and retrofit Veterans Affairs facilities
• Protects our national security with investments to respond to the challenges posed by Russian and Chinese aggression
• Confronts the climate crisis with increased climate change and resiliency funding to help military installations adapt to rising sea levels and worsening natural disasters

“This bill demonstrates an unwavering commitment to our brave servicemembers, their families and to our Veterans,” Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-23) said. “It addresses military infrastructure and readiness needs of current servicemembers, and it provides the benefits and medical care that Veterans have rightly earned in their service to our Nation. The bill specifically targets military housing construction and child development needs, women and mental health priorities, including infertility treatment coverage, and it also addresses our growing resiliency challenges – all while responding to unfolding global threats, notably Russia’s war of aggression in Europe. This blueprint will make our VA and military stronger and meet the pressing needs of all those who both once before and still proudly protect America.”

“Our veterans, servicemembers, and their families have made immense sacrifices to protect and serve our nation, and it is our duty to make sure they have the support they need and deserve,” Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) said. “This critical legislation builds on our commitment to our veterans with targeted funding to enhance mental health care, suicide prevention, and substance use disorder programs, advance women’s health and whole health initiatives, and provide homelessness assistance to our veterans most in need. By separating VA Medical Care spending into its own category apart from other defense and non-defense discretionary spending, we are creating a structure that better serves our veterans. With increased support for the Veterans Benefits Administration to address disability compensation claims and funding to address longstanding construction issues in VA and military facilities and housing, we are continuing our important work to improve the quality of life for our veterans, military, and their families.”

The following amendment to the bill was adopted by the full Committee:

Rep. Wasserman Schultz – The manager’s amendment makes noncontroversial changes to the report. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

A summary of the bill is here. The text of the bill, before the adoption of amendments in full Committee, is here. The bill report, before the adoption of amendments in full Committee, is here. In keeping with the Appropriations Committee’s commitment to transparency, information on Community Project Funding in the bill is here.

Original source can be found here.