WASHINGTON - Today, the House Appropriations Committee released the Fiscal Year 2024 bills for the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies and Legislative Branch Subcommittees. The bills will be considered tomorrow, May 17th at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. respectively. The markups will be live-streamed and can be found on the Committee’s website.
Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Bill
The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies bill includes a total of $337.909 billion in funding for the Department of Defense (Military Construction and Family Housing), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and related agencies. Of the total, $170.627 billion is provided as discretionary funding, and $167.282 billion is provided for mandatory programs. Of the discretionary total, $17.674 billion is for Department of Defense military construction projects, nearly $1 billion above the Budget Request, and $152.481 billion is for the Department of Veterans Affairs discretionary programs, which is nearly $18 billion above fiscal year 2023. Overall, the bill fully funds the Budget Request for the VA. It also includes a total of $471.7 million for the four related agencies.
Top Line Messaging
* Honors our commitment to veterans by:
** Fully funding veterans’ health care programs; and
** Fully funding veterans’ benefits and VA programs, including the electronic health record modernization initiative.
* Supports a strong national security by:
** Providing nearly $1 billion above the Budget Request for military construction, focusing investments in the Pacific theater, barracks, and other quality-of-life projects; and
** Maintaining two provisions prohibiting the closure or realignment of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
* Focuses the Executive Branch on its core responsibilities by:
** Including new provisions prohibiting funds to lobby Congress, promote or advance critical race theory, and carry out divisive Executive Orders.
A summary of the bill is available.
Bill text is available.
Fiscal Year 2024 Legislative Branch Bill
The Legislative Branch bill includes $5.313 billion in discretionary appropriations to fund the offices of the House of Representatives and joint legislative branch items, a decrease of $252 million (or 4.5%) from the FY23 enacted level. Including Senate items, the total allocation is $6.746 billion, a 2.2% reduction from the FY23 enacted level. The bill strikes a delicate balance, maintaining essential oversight responsibilities but doing so in a fiscally responsible manner.
Top Line Messaging
* Ensures Congress remains open and working for the American people by:
** Increasing funding for recruiting, training, and retaining sworn Capitol Police officers;
** Ensuring adequate resources for Members to effectively serve their constituents, including funding for staffing and other office expenditures; and
** Providing modest increases to agencies that provide research and support for Members, including the Congressional Budget Office, Library of Congress, and Government Accountability Office.
* Maintains funding to committees of the House of Representatives so it can hold the Biden Administration accountable by conducting vigorous oversight of the Executive Branch.
A summary of the bill is available.
Bill text is available.
Source: U.S. Department of HCA