VFW Reports - 5-20-16 - Congress Advances VA Approriations Bills

[Boats]

RE: friendsoffreedom@vfw.org

Congress Advances VA Approriations Bills

On Thursday, the House of Representatives and the Senate advanced their respective Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bills for fiscal year (FY) 2017. Both bills fall short of the Administration and the Independent Budget’s request for veterans programs, specifically for the VA’s FY2017 construction accounts and advance appropriations for FY2018. Both bills increase funding from FY2016 levels and the Senate’s version nearly matches the Administration’s request, but the House bill falls $1.5 billion short of the $75 billion the VA said it needs for health care, benefits, cemetery operations, construction and other discretionary spending programs. Both bills include language to authorize VA providers to discuss the use of medical marijuana with VA patients. The Senate bill includes a provision that would expand fertility treatments the VA provides veterans who have lost their ability to reproduce due to severe injuries they suffered during military service. However, the Senate failed to adopt an amendment introduced by Senator Grassley (R-IA) to end the wrongful p ractice of denying veterans who require a fiduciary their second amendment rights. The House bill does include a provision that would expand disability compensation benefits to Blue Water Navy veterans. It is unclear when Congress will discuss or consider a compromise bill, but the VFW urges its members and supporters to contact their members of Congress to ensure these three important provisions are included in a final compromise bill.