The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations today approved by voice vote its fiscal year 2022 bill.
In total, the bill provides $279.9 billion, an increase of $28.1 billion - more than 10 percent - above 2021. Of this amount, discretionary funding for programs such as veterans’ health care and Military Construction totals $124.5 billion, an increase of $11.4 billion above 2021. 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 child care 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
The bill next heads to the full Committee for markup.
“This bill demonstrates a strong commitment to our servicemembers, their families and our Veterans," Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL-23) said. “It addresses military infrastructure and readiness needs of current servicemembers and provides the benefits and medical care that Veterans duly earned in their service to our Nation. The bill specifically targets military housing and child care needs, women’s and mental health priorities, and the climate crisis, while responding to threats emanating from Russian and Chinese aggression. It’s a blueprint to make our VA and military stronger and more responsive to all those who proudly protect America, now and in the past."
“This legislation meets our solemn, Constitutional responsibility to provide for our nation’s veterans," Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) said. “Our veterans have risked their lives to keep our nation safe, and whether they are still fighting or returning home, it is our duty to make sure these brave men and women and their families have the support and the care they need. As our military and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) continue to overcome unprecedented challenges associated with COVID-19, we have a responsibility to make certain that they are supported. This critical legislation helps meet the mental and physical needs of our veterans and protects our national security with robust investments to fund military construction projects. With resources for housing, child care, and medical care, suicide prevention, and homelessness assistance, this bill focuses on the areas vital to our veterans and their families that make daily sacrifices in service of our country."
A summary of the bill is here. The text of the draft bill is. In keeping with the Appropriations Committee’s commitment to transparency, information on Community Project Funding in the bill is.
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
