H.R. 2029 – Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2016
Noteworthy
Background: The Senate Appropriations Committee approved this bill in May on a 21-9 vote, with all Republicans and five Democrats voting in favor: Senators Leahy, Feinstein, Udall, Schatz, and Baldwin.
During the Obama administration, the Democrat-controlled Senate only twice considered the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill individually, the last time being four years ago. In the first year of the Republican majority, the Senate is rectifying this neglect.
Floor Situation: The Senate is currently debating the bill. Majority Leader McConnell has indicated his intention to finish the bill before Veterans Day.
Executive Summary: The Senate bill includes $79.7 billion in discretionary funding, an increase of $7.9 billion over last year’s level and an increase of $2.17 billion from the original version of the Senate bill that included $77.6 billion. The $79.7 billion funding is $1 billion greater than the president’s request. The total funding breakdown includes $8.25 billion in defense funding (budget function 050) and $71.5 billion in non-defense funding.
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, signed into law on November 2, raised the discretionary spending caps for fiscal years 2016 and 2017. Due to this, subcommittee spending allocations will be updated. At this point, the Kirk amendment provides an additional $2.17 billion for the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill above what was reported by the Senate Appropriations Committee in May 2015. Military construction funding was increased by $170 million, Veterans Affairs funding was increased by $1.97 billion, and related agencies funding was increased by $30 million. Full text of the updated bill is available here.
Notable Bill Provisions
Title I – Military Construction
For military construction, the Senate bill contains $8.25 billion, which is $1.7 billion above last year’s level and $185 million below the president’s budget request. The original committee bill was revised to increase military construction funding by $170 million, with $37.5 million going towards priority military construction projects on the Air Force’s Unfunded Priority List, and reduced rescissions by $132.5 million.
Section 410 provides that no funds from this act may be used to construct or renovate any U.S. facility for the purposes of housing a Guantanamo detainee.
Title II – Veterans Affairs
For the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Senate bill includes $71.2 billion in discretionary funding, an increase of $6.2 billion over last year’s level and $1.1 billion greater than the president’s request. The original committee bill was revised to increase Veterans Affairs funding by $1.97 billion, with all of this increased funding going to medical services at the VA, raising funding for medical services to $50.7 billion.
Title III – Related Agencies
For related agencies, the bill contains a total of $274 million, an increase of $30 million over the original committee bill. The $30 million increase is dedicated for Arlington National Cemetery, for a total of $101 million for the cemetery. In addition to Arlington National Cemetery, this title includes funding for the American Battle Monuments Commission, U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and the Armed Forces Retirement Home.
Administration Position
A current Statement of Administration Policy is not yet available. Prior to the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, the administration had released a Statement of Administration Policy that stated concerns with funding levels and included a veto threat.
Cost
The Senate bill includes $79.7 billion in discretionary funding, $7.9 billion more than last year’s level and an increase of $2.17 billion from the original version of the Senate bill that included $77.6 billion. This funding is $1 billion greater than the president’s request. The total funding breakdown includes $8.25 billion in defense funding (budget function 050) and $71.5 billion in non-defense funding.
Amendments
Majority Leader McConnell has urged senators to work with the bill managers on amendments they wish to offer to the bill.