Appropriations Subcommittee Approves Fiscal Year 2020 Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Funding Bill
WASHINGTON — The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies today approved its fiscal year 2020 bill. In total, the legislation provides $108.1 billion in discretionary funding – $10 billion above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level. The bill next heads to the full Committee for markup.
“This bill makes needed investments in the programs that improve our military readiness and provides the benefits and medical care that our Veterans have earned because of their committed service to our Nation,” said House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz. “Whether we agree on the need for a wall or on whether there is or is not a crisis at the border. I hope this committee can agree that the funds for a wall should not be stolen from previously approved vital military construction projects that are to a dollar, a higher priority than any wall. As I have said throughout this process, Military construction dollars should be used only for the purpose they are provided, which is to support the Department of Defense’s mission, servicemembers, and their families.”
“The timeliness of this bill honors our commitment to servicemembers, veterans, and thousands of military families who sacrifice every day for our nation,” said House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey. “We are investing billions more to ensure they have the facilities needed to confront emerging threats, guaranteeing access to reliable family housing, and delivering healthcare, benefits, and assistance veterans have earned. In addition to these investments is a provision ensuring we protect these vital military construction resources from misappropriation for the President’s wasteful border wall.”
A summary of the draft fiscal year 2020 Military Construction-Veterans Affairs funding bill is here. The full text of the bill is here.
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