Dent: Military construction, veterans affairs appropriations bill upholds nation’s promise to servicemembers

U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) said that a military construction and veterans affairs appropriations bill released on Tuesday upholds the nation’s promise to care for servicemembers and their families.

The House Appropriations Committee released the Military Construction and Veterans Appropriations Act, which outlines funding for housing, training and equipping military personnel, in addition to veterans programs, for fiscal year 2017.

“This legislation upholds our nation’s promise to care for our troops, veterans and military families who have endured personal sacrifices to keep us safe at home and strong abroad,” Dent, the chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, said. “It provides a robust increase in funding for medical care and benefits administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to keep pace with demand. Its provisions will improve the quality of life for our service members and their families while they’re serving and meet their needs as they return to their home communities.”

The bill would increase funding for the VA by the percent and increase military construction funding by $250 million beyond the level requested to fully fund family housing, construction of hospitals and health facilities, and overseas investments.

The appropriations bill would provide $81.6 billion in discretionary funding, a $1.8 billion increase from fiscal year 2016.

“It will also address concerns raised by veterans across the country by facilitating improvements in the VA’s claims and appeals processes and maintain the VA’s leadership in cutting edge medical research programs,” Dent said. “Our veterans deserve the best care we can provide, and this legislation will deliver that while simultaneously enhancing oversight for patients and taxpayers alike.”

U.S. Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY), the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, called the bill a “critically important piece of legislation.”

“This bill makes investments to address many problems at the VA – including closing service loopholes, cutting red tape and increasing efficiency and providing good oversight over spending so that these dollars are used for our veterans, not wasted on mismanagement,” Rogers said. “It also provides funds so the men and women fighting for our country and their families have the facilities and services that they need every day. Our nation must have its best foot forward to be successful in our missions abroad and to care for those who make personal sacrifices here at home.”