U.S. Capitol Building photographed in Washington DC on February 29, 2024 (Carlos Bongianni/The Star-Spangled Banner)
WASHINGTON — Congress will vote this week on a proposed 2024 budget for the Department of Veterans Affairs that would increase funding for veterans' health care and other benefits by $24 billion, while eliminating conservative policies pushed by House Republicans. It is planned.
The $346.7 billion bill, which funds VA and military construction projects through Sept. 30, is the result of months of negotiations and multiple negotiations that have repeatedly brought the VA and other government agencies to the brink of shutting down. This follows on from the stopgap funding measures. The fiscal year begins on October 1st.
The House is expected to consider the bipartisan bill first, followed by the Senate. Both chambers last week approved a short-term funding extension that requires Congress to approve a Department of Veterans Affairs budget by March 8 to avoid a shutdown.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, R-New York, said in a statement Sunday praising the bipartisan spending agreement that he was “proud to continue running our government without layoffs or drug riders.” .
The “Poison Pill Rider” includes restricting veterans' access to abortion, reducing diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, banning surgery and hormone therapy for gender-affirming care, and restricting veterans' access to abortions in VA facilities. Democrats said the measures include restrictions on flag flying. The target was displaying pride flags.
The Veterans Administration on Monday finalized a policy to provide abortions to veterans and their dependents when the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, or when the mother's life is in danger. The policy was briefly implemented after the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in 2022, but it has been repeatedly challenged by Republicans.
Other Republican provisions removed from the final version of the Veterans Affairs spending bill could hinder efforts to tackle climate change and bar enforcement of coronavirus mask mandates and vaccination requirements for health care workers. be.
But Republicans were able to push through measures to protect veterans' gun rights. This provision would allow the Veterans Administration to include veterans determined to be unable to manage their own finances into a national background check database used to determine whether they are legally prohibited from purchasing a firearm. Prevent automatic reporting.
“Veterans should not lose their constitutional right to bear arms simply because they need help managing their finances, and if they are a danger to themselves or others,” said Congressman Mike Bost. “A judge, not a Veterans Affairs bureaucrat, should make that decision.” Republican, Illinois, Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee.
Much of the spending bill focuses on investments in health care for veterans and other beneficiaries. Approximately 7.4 million patients are expected to be treated by the VA in fiscal year 2024 for routine health issues or exposure to toxins during military service, according to a summary of the VA's budget proposal. There is.
The bill allocates $121 billion for health care, including $16.2 billion for the approximately 2 million veterans who receive mental health services and $990 million specifically for women's health care. There is. Approximately $230 million will be spent in 2022 to support more than 550,000 veterans diagnosed with substance abuse disorders.
More than $3 billion is being spent to strengthen the Department of Veterans Affairs' ability to reach and assist homeless veterans, who numbered 35,574 in the most recent homeless survey in January.
“This bill honors our sacred duty to care for our veterans upon their return by fully funding veteran health care and benefits and providing the resources necessary to operate VA.” said Chairman Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.). of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
The bill also includes $18.7 billion for military construction, $2 billion more than the White House requested.
Approximately $2 billion to improve housing for families, $1.5 billion to build or renovate facilities for National Guard and Reserve troops, and $662 million to design and construct more than a dozen barracks. It is planned that
Housing conditions, especially for junior staff, have come under intense scrutiny by lawmakers in recent years due to frequent reports of mold, rodent infestations and other poor living conditions.
The bill would also provide more than $330 million to child development centers to address persistent child care shortages on military bases.
