Rep. Calvert Votes to Fulfill Our Obligations to Our Veterans
"Anything short of prompt, high quality healthcare for our veterans is simply unacceptable to me," said Rep. Calvert. "The funding bill approved by the House today once again provides significant funding for the infrastructure our veterans and active duty military members need and deserve. I am also pleased that the Appropriations Committee has included a number of measures within the bill that hold the VA accountable for reforming the broken parts within our veteran healthcare systems."
Fiscal Year 2016 Military Construction and Veteran Affairs Appropriations Bill Highlights
(Courtesy of the House Appropriations Committee)
MEETING OUR VETERAN OBLIGATIONS
Ensures our veterans receive their much deserved health, job and training, and other benefits by increasing discretionary funding for veterans programs by 5.6% over last fiscal year.
Provides $48.6 billion for VA Medical Services ($3.4 billion above last fiscal year) to care for 6.9 million patients.
- Includes funding for mental health care, suicide prevention, traumatic brain injury, ending homelessness, and rural health.
- Provides an additional $970 million for homelessness, Hepatitis C, and support for caregivers of veterans.
RIGHTING THE SHIP AT VA
Speeds up VA claims processing by providing $163 million above last year.
- Tracks progress toward reducing backlog by extending rigorous reporting requirements.
- Supports 770 new staff to tackle claims issues.
Helps ensure our veterans receive proper medical care by including $233 million for the modernization of the VA electronic health record system.
- Ensures that VA continues to work hand-in-hand with Department of Defense by walling off funding until VA meets requirements.
Tightens oversight of taxpayer dollars to address mismanagement.
- Requires reports on construction costs, savings, and changes in scope.
SUPPORTING OUR ACTIVE-DUTY SERVICEMEMBERS
Provides support systems and infrastructure to maintain the morale and readiness of our warfighters and care for their loved ones.
- Provides $7.7 billion for construction and renovation on military bases in the U.S. and around the globe.
- Ensures quality housing for 1,388,028 military families.
- Supports and cares for 9.8 million beneficiaries, including our wounded troops abroad, by providing $607 million for medical facilities.
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