The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies bill includes a total of $317.441 billion in funding for the Department of Defense (Military Construction and Family Housing), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and related agencies. Of the total, $155.701 billion is provided as discretionary funding, and $161.740 billion is provided for mandatory programs. Of the discretionary total, $17.474 billion is for Department of Defense military construction projects, nearly $800 million above the President’s Budget Request. The bill also fully funds the Department of Veterans Affairs for Fiscal Year 2024 by appropriating $137.755 billion in discretionary funding in addition to the $20.268 billion included in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 for the Cost of War Toxic Exposures Fund. It also includes a total of $471.7 million for the four related agencies.

 

Fiscal Year 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Bill

• 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 $800 million above the President’s 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 here.

During the markup, Committee Republicans refused amendments offered by the Democrats that would have:

• Dropped longstanding provisions prohibiting the closure of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay and the use of military construction funds to build a detention center in the United States or territories, which would have allowed the transfer of dangerous terrorists to U.S. soil.
• Funded unnecessary and polarizing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
• Promoted or advanced critical race theory.

Adopted Amendments

• Carter (Manager’s Amendment) – makes agreed upon changes to conform the funding provided in the bill to the Fiscal Responsibility Act and other non-controversial changes.
  • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.
• Cline – requests a report on the feasibility and advisability of expanding the use of community pharmacies for veterans.
  • The amendment was adopted by a voice vote.
• Carter (En Bloc) – includes Hyde language that prevents federal funding for abortions except in cases of incest, rape, or life of the mother; blocks further implementation of the Department of Veteran Affairs' Interim Final Rule on abortion; prohibits Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training and implementation, prohibits funding for hormone therapies or surgeries for gender-affirming care; protects Americans against religious discrimination; and allows only certain flags to be flown over VA facilities. 
  • The amendment was adopted by a vote of 34 to 27.
• Harder – requires a report to address primary care physician shortages.
  • The amendment was adopted  by voice vote.

Original source can be found here