Senate Appropriations Committee Issues Report on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs & Related Agencies (Part 1 of 8)

Targeted News Service

WASHINGTON, Aug. 31 -- The Senate Appropriations Committee issued a report (S.Rpt. 117-35) in explanation of the accompanying bill (S. 2604) making appropriations for military construction, Veterans Affairs and related agencies for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2022. The report was advanced by Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, on Aug. 4, 2021.

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Amounts in new budget authority:

Total of bill as reported to the Senate... $308,177,759,000

Amount of 2021 appropriations... 272,757,216,000

Amount of 2022 budget estimate... 307,065,976,000

Bill as recommended to Senate compared to--

2021 appropriations... +35,420,543,000

2022 budget estimate... +1,111,783,000

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BACKGROUND

Purpose of the Bill

The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill provides necessary funding for the planning, design, construction, alteration, and improvement of military facilities worldwide. It also finances the cost of military family housing and the U.S. share of the NATO Security Investment Program. In addition, the bill provides funding, including environmental remediation, for base closures and realignments authorized by law. The bill provides resources to the Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans benefits and healthcare and funding for U.S. cemeteries and battlefield monuments both in the United States and abroad, including the American Battle Monuments Commission and Arlington National Cemetery. Additionally, the bill funds the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and the Armed Forces Retirement Homes.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

The Committee recommends new budget authority totaling $309,128,759,000 for fiscal years 2022 and 2023 for military construction, family housing, base closure, and veterans healthcare and benefits, including fiscal year 2023 advance appropriations for veterans medical care and appropriated mandatories, and related agencies. This includes $166,715,027,000 in mandatory funding and $142,413,732,000 in discretionary funding. The table at the end of the report displays the Committee recommendation in comparison with the current fiscal year and the President's fiscal year 2022 request. The following table shows total budget authority available for fiscal year 2022.

APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022

Budget request -- Senate recommendation

New budget authority... $39,192,786,305 -- $41,255,569,305

Previous advances provided for fiscal year 2022 for medical care...

94,183,260,000 -- 94,183,260,000

Previous advances provided for fiscal year 2022 for appropriated mandatories...

145,311,218,000 -- 145,311,218,000

Less advances provided for fiscal year 2023 for medical care... 111,287,000,000 -- 111,287,000,000

Less advances provided for fiscal year 2023 for appropriated mandatories... 156,586,190,000 -- 156,586,190,000

Total appropriations for fiscal year 2022. 110,814,074,305 -- 112,876,857,305

Overview and Summary of Bill

The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill funds an array of programs that are vital to America's military personnel and their families, and to the Nations' veterans. For U.S. military forces and their families worldwide, the bill funds critical infrastructure, ranging from mission essential operational and training facilities, such as command and control centers, airfield improvements, and ranges, to key quality-of-life facilities, including barracks, family housing, child care centers, schools, and hospitals.

For America's 19.5 million veterans, the bill provides the necessary funding for veterans benefits and healthcare, from prescription drugs and clinical services to the construction of hospitals and other medical facilities throughout the Nation.

The bill also funds veterans cemeteries in the United States, as well as four independent agencies-the American Battle Monuments Commission, the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Armed Forces Retirement Homes.

Continues with Part 2 of 8

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