The House of Representatives approved a final conference report early Thursday morning that would provide $1.1 billion for domestic and international efforts to fight Zika virus.
The House-approved Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Zika Response Appropriations Act, H.R. 2577, final conference report would also provide $82.5 billion in discretionary funding for military and veterans’ affairs activities in fiscal year 2017.
U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) said that the conference report contains a “much needed” $2.9 billion increase for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to fund mental health and suicide prevention programs.
“It also provides increased assistance for homeless veterans and rural health initiatives, and prevents the closure of Guantanamo Bay Naval Station,” Curbelo said.
Curbelo has called on Congress to fund the full amount requested by the Obama administration to eradicate Zika virus, which has proven especially dangerous to pregnant women.
“While this bipartisan compromise fell short, it is a step in the right direction,” Curbelo said. “Importantly, it avoids a funding cliff at the end of the summer which was a major flaw in the original House-passed Zika bill I opposed. I will continue to call for as much funding as possible to ensure the residents of South Florida, and the nation, are no longer threatened by the Zika virus.”
U.S. Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV) said that passage of the measure sends a strong signal that the House stands by veterans, troops and military families.
“By increasing funding in this bill we will ensure our veterans get the timely, quality care they deserve while prioritizing funding for military housing, healthcare and critical construction projects abroad,” Heck said. “Our service members and their families deserve the highest level of support and this bill provides them the assurance that they will be taken care of.”
The final measure includes a bipartisan amendment led by Heck and U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) that would enable VA physicians to recommend the use of medical marijuana in states where it’s legal.
“We should give the VA every possible tool and resource to care for our veterans and this amendment does that,” Heck said. “It gives the VA another treatment option in states where medical marijuana is legal for conditions ailing our veterans. As a physician, I know these treatments work. I’m pleased the House finally passed this amendment to help the VA provide the best care for our veterans.”
U.S. Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA) said that more than 60,000 veterans in California’s San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties have been forced to drive hours to receive care through the VA — but a long-awaited VA hospital in French Camp would serve Central Valley residents well.
“The facility at French Camp will bring quality healthcare to the Central Valley and the men and women who honorably served our country,” Denham said. “I’m happy that we can continue to make progress and look forward to providing accessible service to those who wore the cloth of this nation.”
U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA), chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, and his Appropriations Committee colleagues, U.S. Reps. Tom Cole (R-OK), Kay Granger (R-TX), Tom Rooney (R-FL), David Valadao (R-CA) and Martha Roby (R-AL), participated in the conference committee with the Senate to produce the final conference report.